South Africans turn to AI for advice as experts warn of privacy and scam risk
Three in four South Africans use AI-powered tools such as chatbots, image generators and video creation platforms.
South Africans are increasingly turning to AI for everyday advice and assistance, a new survey by Kaspersky reveals. Nearly three-quarters of South Africans use AI-powered tools like chatbots, image generators, and video creation platforms for tasks such as summarising information, writing text, and generating images. While AI usage spans across various areas, 29% of respondents use it for health-related questions, 25% for holiday planning, and 34% seek personal advice from AI.
However, cybersecurity experts warn of the associated privacy risks and scam potential. Kaspersky's Seifallah Jedidi cautioned that AI services may contain vulnerabilities, and personal information shared with these platforms can be accessed by third parties. He also highlighted the risk of AI-generated inaccurate content and warned of cybercriminals exploiting AI popularity by creating malicious services.
Users are advised to verify information, handle personal data cautiously, and review AI platform privacy policies.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Citizen's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
