A new global survey from Google and Ipsos has found that Nigeria now tops the world in the adoption and purposeful use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in the areas of learning, professional work, and entrepreneurship. The findings were highlighted in the report titled Our Life with AI: Helpfulness in the Hands of More People and shared by Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade.
According to the report, 88 per cent of Nigerian adults have used an AI chatbot, marking a significant 18-point rise compared with 2024 and far above the global average of 62 per cent. Nigerians are described as embracing AI tools not just for experimentation but for real-world tasks that fuel learning and economic opportunity.
The survey reveals that a staggering 93 per cent of Nigerians use AI to understand complex subjects, compared with 74 per cent globally, showing how the technology is becoming integral to education and self-directed learning. Additionally, 91 per cent use AI to support their work tasks, while 80 per cent apply it to explore new business ideas or career changes—nearly double the global average of 42 per cent.
Nigerians also show strong confidence in AI’s benefits. About 91 per cent believe AI positively impacts learning and access to information, compared to about 65 per cent globally, and 95 per cent think university students and educators will benefit from AI tools. Overall optimism about AI is notably high: 80 per cent of Nigerians are excited about the technology’s possibilities, while only 20 per cent express concern—a split that contrasts with the much closer global sentiment.
Kola-Ogunlade described the pattern as “inspiring,” emphasising how Nigerians are using AI “creatively and purposefully” to open up opportunities for growth, economic empowerment, and shaping their future with technology.
