Survey shows 43% of Taiwanese have used generative AI

調查顯示，43%的台灣人使用過生成式人工智慧。

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — About 43% of Taiwanese have used generative artificial intelligence in the past year, according to an annual survey on internet usage released by the Taiwan Network Information Center on Wednesday.

The survey found that 8.54% of respondents said they were willing to pay for an AI subscription service. TWNIC commissioned National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University to conduct the study.

Among those with experience using AI, 79% said they could evaluate the quality of AI services, but only 66% said they could effectively use them, indicating a significant gap between assessment and practical application.

Younger users accounted for the largest share of AI adoption, with usage declining with age. Among internet users overall, 83% supported regulating AI through legislation, while 83% supported AI literacy education.

Nearly 80% of respondents said they hoped the government would provide AI literacy education, a trend researchers described as reflecting “false confidence” in AI. They said future education should focus on helping users understand AI’s biases and limitations, as well as issues such as fraud prevention, fake news identification, and personal data protection.

Chang Yuh-min (張裕敏), a professor at the College of Communication at National Chengchi University, said about 70% of the public believes they can identify AI-generated content. However, international empirical research shows the actual accuracy rate for distinguishing real images from AI-generated photos is only 61.3%, per CNA.

Chang said even human facial features can be difficult to tell apart, adding that the public’s high level of confidence may stem from overconfidence. He said requiring platforms to disclose AI-generated content is currently the only effective solution proactively.

The survey showed Taiwan’s overall internet penetration rate reached 89%, with fixed broadband penetration at 70%, mobile internet penetration at 87%, and 5G mobile internet penetration rising to 41%. Researchers said Taiwan’s digital development is shifting from a focus on access to an emphasis on effective and skilled use of digital tools.

TikTok usage rose to 25%, with 11% of users accessing the platform daily. Among short-form video users, 56% said they often begin watching without realizing it, while 36% said such use causes them to neglect other tasks. TWNIC said these trends underscore the need for stronger judgment, fact-checking habits, and risk awareness.

Internet use among people aged 70 and above increased from 50% in 2024 to 54% in 2025. However, among those who remain offline, 82% reported having no willingness to learn how to use the internet. Practical services most likely to motivate future internet use among non-users included online medical services (7.86%), government public services (7.56%), and online shopping (7.55%).