Whispers to the machine: The secrets 1,200 Kenyans only tell their screen
What do 1,200 Kenyans tell a chatbot that they won’t tell another human being? Many people think generative AI was built to draft emails and automate spreadsheets. But nearly half of the Kenyans surveyed in a recent study are using it as a 24/7 digital confidant, sharing personal anxieties, relationship crises and unspoken secrets. In […]
In a recent study by Nairobi-based research consultancy Nendo, 1,200 digitally savvy Kenyans were surveyed, revealing that nearly half of the participants are using generative AI chatbots as 24/7 digital confidants to share personal anxieties, relationship crises, and unspoken secrets. This finding demonstrates how quickly AI is evolving beyond its initial purpose as a mere productivity tool, becoming an emotional safe space for many.
Among those who engaged in emotional support or personal guidance through AI, 76% were between the ages of 18 and 24, while 81.4% of those aged 25 to 34 relied on AI for emotional support or personal guidance. Although the study does not definitively explain why respondents confide in AI, the accessibility of conversational platforms allows users to articulate thoughts as they would in a conversational setting, creating a comfortable space for personal disclosure.
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