Nine in 10 Nigerian workers tap AI for problem-solving

Nine in 10 Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) users employ it for brainstorming, writing emails, and other work-related tasks, a new survey from Ipsos and Google has revealed. This is above the global average of 74 percent.

The study titled, ‘Our Life with AI: From innovation to application,’ disclosed that global AI usage has jumped to 48 percent, and excitement about its potential now exceeds concerns (57 percent versus 43 percent, up from 50 percent / 50 percent last year).

“Nine in ten (93 percent) Nigerian AI users say they use AI for work, exceeding the global average of 74 percent,” the study read, commenting on AI use in the workplace.

Most of these workers use AI to draft emails or cover letters. Ninety-one percent use generative AI to assist in writing, 91 percent for brainstorming, 92 percent for problem-solving, 81 percent for studying long-form documents, and 85 percent for digesting complex information.

“AI is starting to deliver magic at scale, making people’s lives easier and better,” said Kent Walker, president of Global Affairs, Google and Alphabet.

Before becoming mainstream, there were concerns that human-led jobs would become redundant because of smarter and faster algorithms. However, reality has taken a different turn as humans increasingly integrate AI into their work processes, doing more and delivering more efficient and effective results.

Lanre Basamta, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Optimus AI Labs, said, “AI will not take away jobs. Instead, those equipped with AI skills will take them.”

Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, AI has become more mainstream in today’s workplace, with many workers leveraging it to boost their productivity levels. “AI is influencing everything. It has become an important aspect of how we work and interact,” said Ola Williams, country manager for Microsoft Nigeria.

Read also: 75% of Nigerian employees ready to adopt GenAI at workplace — Report

Oladayo Adenubi, a financial analyst, said: “I use AI for ideation and streamlining my work. It makes me write and analyse faster, and it helps with Excel as I no longer have to Google-search for formulas.”

While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted that AI would affect almost 40 percent of jobs globally, replacing some and complementing others. The study highlighted that Nigerians are optimistic about AI’s economic impact.

In an earlier report, Google estimated that increased AI adoption will contribute an additional $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy. It highlighted that searches in Nigeria for ‘What is AI?’ increased by 30 percent in 2024, while searches for ‘How to use AI’ increased by 40 percent.

“Nigerians are extremely optimistic about AI’s economic impact. Like their global counterparts, Nigerians believe AI will change jobs and industries in the next 5 years and believe that change will be a good thing (85 percent), compared to 8 percent who do not. Eight in ten Nigerians believe AI will positively change the economy (81 percent),” the study by Ipsos and Google read.

The Nigerian government has also tapped into this AI optimism, developing a draft National AI Strategy (NAIS) to guide AI implementation and adoption. Despite optimism, concerns remain about AI’s role in the workplace.

According to Goldman Sachs, up to 300 million full-time jobs could be replaced by AI-powered applications. Bloomberg Intelligence recently revealed that global banks are expected to cut as many as 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years as AI encroaches on tasks currently carried out by human workers.

A World Economic Forum report recently predicted that advancements in AI will displace 92 million jobs, representing eight percent of the global workforce, by 2030. It, however, noted that AI will create 170 million new jobs, too, leading to a net increase of 78 million roles, or seven percent global job growth.

It added, “While technology will enhance productivity, it’s essential that workers are equipped with the skills to adapt. Without proper support, millions may face job displacement. As AI reshapes the global workforce, a focus on skill development, retraining, and strategic policymaking will be critical to preparing workers for the future of work.”