If I received a dollar for every time I heard the phrase “everyone’s using AI now,” I would be too busy traveling the world in my own jet to write this article this year. However, people don’t say this without a reason. Almost every day, I see social media posts written with ChatGPT (and I’m not judging by the em-dash), funny Sora videos showing impossible stunts and emotional moments, and “professional” birthday photos created with only a phone camera and a detailed prompt.
Tech influencers talk about how it’s “everywhere,” and startups share how it makes their work so easy that they can’t imagine others not using it. Even the media hypes AI adoption so well, and your phone’s cookies may even make it a duty to rub it in your face all the time if you Google about it once.
But is AI really everywhere? Is it still a big deal once you step outside the tech world? This is what I’ll discuss in this article.
Inside The Tech Bubble: Why It Feels Like Everyone's Using AI
For some of us, there’s almost nothing we do that doesn’t require AI input. As a writer, I use AI to spot grammatical errors and enrich my content with detailed examples of concepts. Graphic designers use it to generate ideas for images and infographics, or to create a framework for their designs. Marketers use it for many things, from generating content ideas to analyzing data to replying to customers, and web developers are not left out either.
We who do tech-heavy work are constantly exposed to AI tools, even when we don’t actively seek them out. Online discussions are dominated by new futuristic AI models, mind-blowing updates, things to try with AI, and comparisons between models. Hence, tech-savvy people fall for the echo chamber effect.
When the same conversation bounces around the people with similar interests, it seems like everyone is talking about it. However, it’s often only popular among those who share the interest. Step outside that circle and no one’s giving the topic a second thought. An easy example is how the decision to upgrade our laptops to Windows 11 was a big argument among my friends, but when I asked someone else to do the upgrade, they asked me, “What’s that?”
Outside The Bubble: A Very Different Reality
While you and I are over here keeping ChatGPT and Gemini tabs open on our browsers 24/7, there are many who don’t even have a ChatGPT account and whose tools are in their hands, not on a screen. You won’t need to look far to find examples. Think of the handyman who helps unclog your drain pipes or the street vendor selling food through word of mouth.
I’m not saying non-tech workers completely lack AI awareness, but the percentage of those who don’t use it is quite interesting. PewResearch reveals 63% of America’s workers either don’t use AI for work or don’t use it much, and 17% haven’t heard of AI being used in the workplace. The same page also shows that artificial intelligence usage tends to be more common in urban areas than in rural ones, which, by extension, I interpret to mean that less developed countries than the US likely have even lower rates of AI use.
There are many reasons for this, but here, I’ll share a few of them:
Lack of awareness
Some people just don’t know about AI. Even I sometimes find it hard to believe, but if some people have never heard of Michael Jackson, then more people have never heard of ChatGPT yet. And even among those who know about it, some aren’t aware of the possibilities or how it can make their work or daily life easier.
Cost issues
I become a budgeting expert anytime I have to subscribe to any AI tool. They don’t always come cheap, and I need to be sure I will use it to the fullest, or else it just feels like a waste of money. Midjourney, for example, charges anything from $10 to $120 per month, and the limitations of the $10 plan make the $30 feel better, but that’s a lot of money, especially for third-world users.
Tech intimidation
Some people assume that using AI is only for experts. They see it as something that’s hard to learn to use, so they don’t even try. Tech-savvy friends and family may successfully convince them to try, but for some, they’ve concluded it’s not for them because their field currently doesn’t require it.
The belief that it kills creativity
People feel that creating with AI stops you from thinking when creating and coming up with original ideas, and when you think about it deeply, they may have a solid point. This is why many music artists have yet to fully adopt it for music creation and blame the music executives who sponsor it for “stealing their ideas,” since most of these models are trained on already released music—sadly, without artists’ consent.
Inaccuracy
Open ChatGPT, check the bottom of your screen, and you’ll see the popular disclaimer, “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.” Many researchers use AI and then do extra research to confirm the information it provides, but others see it as double work and would rather just go the manual way.
Environmental impact
The UN Environment Programme has warned us about the environmental impact of AI. They’ve mentioned that electronic waste from data centers contains lead and mercury, that these centers need a lot of energy, which may come from burning fossil fuels, and other issues. People who care about the environment often claim issues like these as reasons why they can’t ride the AI wave.
The Numbers Tell The Truth
I can make claims all day, but numbers don’t lie. Let’s see what they say about AI adoption.
Bravery provided a comparison of how frequently people use ChatGPT, the most popular AI tool, across several countries. Here it is:
AI usage often varies between urban and rural areas, younger and older people, as well as other demographics. PewResearch shares more insights into this below.
Based on that, AI users tend to be younger, more educated, more likely to live in the city, etc.
Note: It’s safe to assume that these stats are based on conscious usage. Many people use AI indirectly without even knowing it. Every “Hey Siri” and autoplay on Spotify or YouTube is AI at work, so many who use these tech may not respond positively when quizzed about their everyday AI use.
Why The Tech Bubble Misleads Us
Trends on social media are often exaggerated, and without context, they can be easily misleading. It looks like everyone’s already automating their workflows and running multimillion-dollar one-person businesses, but that’s far from the reality. Most professionals are still experimenting with basic tools or using AI for small tasks, such as rewriting emails or summarizing notes.
Tech influencers also help spread this misconception, as it draws attention to them, while tech companies make it seem like AI use is the order of the day to attract investors. And as long as one remains in the tech space — following tech news and influencers and having conversations with techy minds — it’ll be easy to assume there is no world outside AI.
Also, there’s a difference between talking about AI and actively using it productively, and I’m sure most people who will read this will easily relate to what I’m saying.
You may be able to talk about everything AI is doing right now, maybe even have a Pro plan with hopes of finding time to do something mind-blowing with it, but you never get to actually do anything with it. So while the talk is big, the action itself is small.
Real Barriers To Widespread AI Use
Several factors still affect how quickly AI use spreads. Some of them include:
Limited Digital Skills And Access To Reliable Internet Or Devices
Many people, especially those without a tech background, lack the basic digital literacy to use AI tools confidently. As for others, poor internet, which causes lags and freezes, discourages them. Imagine trying to upload gigabytes of data to an AI model, only to have it waste your time and constantly fail.
Both factors create a divide. Only those with strong tech foundations and reliable internet can fully benefit from AI, while others either wait for a better time in the future or give up on it entirely.
Fear Of Privacy Risks Or Job Displacement
Some avoid AI tools because they don’t trust how it handles the information it’s given. Even Sam Altman warned about the absence of legal confidentiality when sharing sensitive information with ChatGPT. Other experts have also advised against sharing sensitive information, including passwords, with AI tools.
Besides privacy risks, others see AI as something that will replace them. They fear that mass adoption means no work for them. They may even recognize its potential, but feeling that an AI-driven world threatens their financial security and future, they reject it.
Poor Understanding Of What AI Actually Does
Some people are just indifferent towards AI. They know it’s cool and can do impressive stuff, but they can’t really connect it to real-life benefits. People say “AI is taking over,” but all they hear is just another futuristic buzzword. Without a clear education or a relatable example, they will hardly adopt AI.
Economic And Cultural Gaps Between Tech Hubs And Everyday Communities
In tech hubs, AI is a culture and a force. Many people are tuned into it and can’t wait for the next exciting chapter. But in many everyday communities, AI is just another minor addition. They may ask simple questions to ChatGPT or visit it when they come across a trend that says what AI can do, but after that, they’re done with it. It’s not their lifestyle. They don’t work with it and mostly don’t use it to run their homes.
While techies may have running subscriptions to several AI tools and experiment with them often, everyday users may not even consider spending the least on them because they simply don’t use them that much.
What Life Looks Like Beyond The Tech Hype
Someone in a small village like mine who hears about “AI revolutionizing work” automatically assumes it’s something for coders and tech giants. However, while they may not actively use AI, they still reap its benefits without even realizing it. When Google Maps reroutes them around traffic or when Netflix suggests what’s next to watch, it’s all AI at work. But since they consider AI to be some distant, hard-to-learn idea, they consider it irrelevant to their daily life.
While in the tech world, conversations revolve around automation and disruption, daily reality involves people worrying about fuel prices, school fees, slow internet, and keeping their business afloat. Every celebration of a new advancement in AI is met with a “how does that help me?” from people outside the tech world.
Why Understanding This Gap Matters
When people assume that everyone has already adopted new technology, it can backfire. For example, a startup might create an advanced AI dashboard for small business owners, expecting them to automate their work. But most of those owners just want a simple bookkeeping tool. The software feels too complicated, and after struggling to learn it, they give up.
This issue isn’t limited to businesses. The same thing happens in education and government. Schools might assume students already understand AI or have access to devices when many don’t. Governments might roll out tech-heavy policies, forgetting that not everyone is ready for automation or has the right tools.
AI offers huge benefits — saving time, money, and effort — but these advantages only reach a few people if most others can’t access or understand the technology. Without proper education and strong infrastructure, the gap will keep growing, and AI’s full potential will stay out of reach for many.
Bridging The Divide
We now know that AI adoption is not as widespread as the media makes it seem, and we have seen real numbers to prove it. Also, we have seen why it may feel like everyone uses it and what prevents people from using it. However, this is not just about debunking an AI myth but also about where AI’s future is heading.
The future of AI will only be relevant to a few if others outside the tech world are not included in its advancement. Consider this a call to everyone. Governments should support infrastructure that helps AI. Tech inventors should look up real adoption statistics when making new products.
People should be educated about AI and its use, so they don’t fear it. Those who already rely on it should practice some restraint, so they don’t become overly dependent on it. It’s okay to use AI as a helper, not a substitute for creativity and originality.
The everyday person should know that AI is not always as complex as they think it is. And to the one who thinks AI will take their job? It likely won’t if you adopt it early enough and use it to improve your output. AI is for everybody—yes, even you!
Talking about AI in the workplace, have you ever wondered if ChatGPT can replace a human virtual assistant or why businesses still choose humans over AI assistants? Read about that and other interesting topics by surfing our blog.
