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- South Africans are increasingly integrating AI into their lives.
- Search interest on AI-related topics reached an all-time high on Google this year.
- Locals are using AI to build and foster their careers, with many looking up AI in relation to CVs.
For more stories, visit the Tech and Trends homepage.
Google recently revealed that South Africa was experiencing a surge in interest in artificial intelligence (AI) this year.
Google data found that AI interest in terms of searches had increased by a whopping 230% in the country, compared to the previous year, and a remarkable 700% surge over the last five years.
Some of the most searched, trending topics this year include: "what is AI technology?" (+1 700%), "how to invest in AI?" (+950%), "who created AI?" (+650%) and "how does artificial intelligence work?" (+500%).
South Africans are finding ways to integrate AI into various aspects of their lives, especially in their careers. This was proven by the increase in the use of AI when producing CVs, with it having seen a 1 050% spike.
They are also searching for topics such as "AI song generator" (+5,850%), "AI logo generator" (+5 560%), "AI photo editor" (+4 500%), "AI video editor" (+3,100%) and "AI story writer" (+1 400%).
"It's heartening to observe the surge of interest in AI among South Africans. As with many across the African continent and the world at large, South Africans are keenly exploring and reaping the benefits of conscientiously developed AI tools," said country director at Google South Africa, Alistair Mokoena.
Building careers
With Google offering various skills training programmes, including the Grow with Google programme and Google's Career Certificates, among others, South Africans are using the platform to build and advance their careers.
This is reflected by the topics they are currently searching, from "how can I start a business with no money" (up 1 250% since last year), "how to make a website for your business" (up 200%), to "how to start [an] online business from home", which has increased by 150%.
Additionally, South Africans are eager to acquire new certifications, particularly in digital skills.
Searches for business management, teaching, health and safety, and cybersecurity courses are trending in 2023.
Notably, searches for "digital marketing courses" have doubled, and interest in machine learning courses has skyrocketed by 1 500%.
Fighting cybersecurity
In addition to career advancement, South Africans increasingly want to protect themselves from cyber threats and misinformation.
Searches for terms like "spear phishing" (+4 050%), "SMS phishing" (+950%) and "rogue security software" (+350%) have seen an increase in the last half a decade.
Search interest in "internet safety" has tripled in 2023 alone.
Misinformation is also a top concern, with searches for "fact-checking" surging by more than 450% in the past five years.
According to Google, South Africa ranks among the top 10 countries globally in searching for topics such as misinformation and information literacy.
Topics like "what is fake news?" and "how to spot fake news" are trending, reflecting the public's desire for accurate information.
