AI Is Eating Nigeria Faster Than Expected Amid Comforts And Concerns

Nigeria is embracing artificial intelligence at a staggering pace, with adoption rates that eclipse global averages and a profound shift toward using the technology for economic survival and advancement. However, this rapid integration is unfolding alongside a significant deficit in public understanding, raising questions about the long-term implications of adopting a powerful tool that few claim to deeply comprehend.

A new survey by Google and Ipsos reveals that 88% of Nigerian adults have now used an AI chatbot, an 18-point surge from 2024. The driver is no longer novelty, but necessity. A remarkable 93% of users employ AI to learn new skills, while 91% use it for work tasks. Most strikingly, 80% have used it to explore a new business or career path, nearly double the global rate.

The Nigerian approach is intensely pragmatic, the study demonstrates, as AI is being leveraged as a tool for immediate upskilling, income generation, and navigating a challenging economic landscape.

This pragmatic adoption exists within a notable paradox. Extremely high trust coupled with relatively low knowledge raises concerns. While adoption soars, only 27% of Nigerians say they know “a lot” about AI. Despite this, an overwhelming 94% express confidence in tech companies to oversee AI in the public’s best interest, and 69% trust the government to do the same, figures well above global averages.

This trust extends to policy, with 71% of Nigerians prioritising innovation in fields like medicine over regulation to protect existing industries. Yet, a significant minority, 35%, believes government-imposed limitations are preventing the economy from fully benefiting from AI.

The sector experiencing AI’s most pronounced impact is education. Students and teachers are “super users,” and 91% of the public believes AI is having a positive impact on learning.

Expectations are sky-high, with 95% predicting benefits for university students and educators. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where skills acquired through AI in educational settings are directly applied to professional and entrepreneurial pursuits.

The survey paints a portrait of a nation making a conscious, collective bet on AI as a catalyst for development. The critical, unanswered question is whether this comfort-first, knowledge-later approach will fuel sustainable growth or create vulnerabilities in a future increasingly defined by technological literacy.