1 in 2 Indian internet users already using AI platforms; ChatGPT most widely used: LocalCircles

New Delhi: Studies found that 66 per cent (2 out of 3 users) of those using AI platforms use it for finding information while 25 per cent also use them to summarise documents or other uses.

DeepSeek, a relatively unknown Chinese AI startup, made public an open-source platform has emerged as a challenger to established players like OpenAI, Google and Meta, with its recent release of cutting-edge affordable AI model R1.

The rapidly changing tech scenario is transforming how people work and do business with the rapid adoption of AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools, escalating the debate about how machines will replace humans for most routine tasks.

Here’s a list of popular AI tools in public usage:

1. OpenAI’s new O3 model is designed to enhance reasoning capabilities, particularly in areas like mathematics, science and coding. O3-mini, a smaller, more efficient version is now available to all ChatGPT users including those on the free tier.

2. Gemini is Google’s AI platform now integrated into Google Search while Llama 3 is Meta’s latest version of AI, integrated into platforms like WhatsApp.

3. Another company Anthropic has Claude 3.5 Sonnet, one of the most intelligent models from the company till date. In addition to these, there is Grok, an AI model by xAI.

4. Copilot from Microsoft uses GPT-4 and Perplexity uses models like GPT-4 or Claude 3.5 Sonnet. DeepSeek, being open source, is already integrated into Perplexity and several other AI engines are in the process of integrating it.

All these platforms can help with routine tasks like finding information, researching, writing, analysing data and summarising documents and some can also generate images, videos or even powerpoint slides thereby automating most routine tasks currently done on a screen by a human.

1 in 2 Indian internet users are already using AI platforms

The data on the usage of AI for everyday purposes has been gathered by LocalCircles in its first nationwide survey to understand ‘How India uses AI’.

The survey received over 92,000 responses from citizens in 309 districts of India with 64 per cent of respondents being men while 36 per cent of respondents were women. As much as 45 per cent of respondents were from tier 1 cities, 31 per cent from tier 2 and 24 per cent of respondents were from tier 3, 4, 5 and rural districts.

Here are some notable findings from the survey:

- 1 in 2 Indian internet users are already using AI platforms; ChatGPT is the most widely used.

- Only 18 per cent of Indian AI users surveyed find information generated through AI platforms to be inaccurate; 36 per cent find it to be high in accuracy.

- 90 per cent of Indian AI users surveyed use AI platforms primarily in text mode while 10 per cent use them in voice mode.

- 3 in 10 Indian users of AI platforms surveyed have a paid/premium subscription.

What are AI platforms used for?

The largest group of 66 per cent indicated they use AI platforms for ‘looking for information’; 25 per cent for ‘looking for information not easily available via search engines’; 25 per cent stated ‘for summarising documents’; 9 per cent stated ‘for writing’; 9 per cent stated ‘for creating or enhancing pictures’; 9 per cent stated ‘for creating or enhancing videos’; and 16 per cent were for ‘for use in cases other than ones listed above’.

To sum up, 2 in 3 Indian AI users surveyed use AI to look for information.

How many have switched to DeepSeek?

As many as 3 in 10 Indian users of AI platforms have switched to DeepSeek or plan to do so soon.

DeepSeek’s affordable R1 model and its approach to making AI open source, which enables others to use and improve their work for free, is creating ripples in the tech world. The reason is attributed to DeepSeek’s emphasis on developing more efficient and cost-effective AI models, particularly hardware, directly competing with those developed by established US companies.

Its AI model reportedly costs 30 times less to run as compared to the various AI platforms, giving it a huge advantage, especially for companies and researchers looking for cheaper alternatives to high-cost AI systems.

Out of the 15,753 AI platform users who responded, 8 per cent stated that they ‘have already switched’; 15 per cent stated ‘yes, will switch unless other platforms also offer advanced features free’; 8 per cent stated ‘yes, will switch regardless’; 38 per cent stated ‘no, will not switch’; and 31 per cent did not give a clear answer.