By Oyintari Ben
According to search trends from tech giant Google, interest in “artificial intelligence” (AI) skyrocketed in 2022 in South Africa and around the world.
Google trends indicated that artificial intelligence also reached its peak in January 2023.
The top searches were “ai generator” at number three, “ai art” at number four, “what is ai” at number five, “google ai” at number six, all of which saw a rise of over 5000%, according to Google.
The business, which sees AI as a way to tackle pressing societal issues like climate change, recently released their strategy for pursuing AI responsibly.
South Africans are becoming more interested in AI, a transformative technology, according to Matt Brittin, President of Google Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
AI is already a significant aspect of many of our lives. In fact, if you frequently use Google tools, you probably utilise AI without even realising it. For example, AI enables Maps to provide you with the quickest or most fuel-efficient route, or Search to discover what you’re looking for.
Google Trends also reveals that South Africans are becoming more concerned with internet security and privacy.
“Cybercrime” searches reached record highs globally in 2022, while “computer security” searches were the most popular security topic globally. With search interest for both terms increasing by 70% in 2022, it is evident that South Africans are also more concerned about their online safety and computer security, according to Brittin.
According to Google, searches for “password manager” soared by 150% while searches for “private browsing” and “one-time password” both saw record-high levels of search interest in 2022.
Google noted that South Africans also used the search engine to learn more about the country’s economy.
