Amber Hickman |
Millennials and Generation Z are driving the adoption of generative artificial intelligence, according to Microsoft’s 2024 Global Online Safety Survey.
The survey, which had 17,000 participants from 17 different countries, found that 56 per cent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 were the most active users of generative AI, followed by millennials (ages 25-44) and teenagers (ages 13-17).
However, 87 per cent of respondents said they were worried about the potential risks of generative AI, with the most common concerns being scams and deepfakes.
The survey also gathered information on online risks in general, with 67 per cent of respondents reporting that they experienced a risk in the past year. The most common risk experienced was misinformation (50 per cent), followed by personal risks (44 per cent), which included hate speech and cyberbullying.
Furthermore, 70 per cent of teenagers reported experiencing a risk. However, 87 per cent of teenagers are talking to their parents about these risks, a 20 per cent rise from 2023.
Microsoft has released two new online safety resources in line with the report to help young people and adults feel more confident about online safety at home and school. The Microsoft Family Safety Toolkit is aimed at helping parents use family safety settings, and “Good Game”, available on Minecraft Education is aimed at helping children and teenagers learn about cyber safety.