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The Conversation
What will AI do for us? Young adults in lower-income countries feel more positive about its potential – new survey
A recent survey conducted across ten countries in Africa and South Asia indicates that young adults in lower-income regions have a positive outlook on AI, particularly regarding its potential to enhance education and job prospects. The findings reveal that many respondents expect AI to create better opportunities in their working lives, contrasting sharply with more negative sentiments often expressed by their peers in wealthier nations. However, participants also voiced concerns, primarily related to data ownership and the applicability of AI technologies to their local contexts and languages.
ExperimentConfidence: MediumMid term horizonData governance risk: High
Published 7 Jul 2026, 10:45 UTC5 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Survey includes responses from 1,864 young adults aged 18-35.
- Nearly 80% expect AI to improve education and learning opportunities.
- Daily AI users expressed higher concerns about data ownership and ethics.
- Lower-income countries show a more optimistic view compared to UK peers.
- AI's main applications include learning new skills and job searching.
Interesting facts
- Two-thirds of respondents reported using AI daily.
- More than half expect AI to improve their economic opportunities in five years.
- Concerns about AI are often centered on data privacy and cultural relevance.