Teenage girls in Japan increasingly treat artificial intelligence like a trusted friend. A recent survey from the Japanese government reveals that more than half of the young women who use generative AI tools ask the software for advice on their personal worries. The Cabinet Office consumer panel conducted the study to see exactly how citizens interact with this fast-growing technology. They discovered that young women use the tools in very different ways compared to older adults.
The government researchers spoke to exactly 1,442 people online during February. They made sure to get a balanced view of the country by selecting 103 men and 103 women from each age group. They talked to teenagers, young adults, middle-aged workers, and senior citizens over 70.
In the data, the researchers found that 52.4% of teenage girls consult AI about their personal problems. This specific group holds the highest share among all age and gender categories in the country. The trend stays relatively strong as women get older, too. More than 30% of women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s use chatbots for the same emotional purpose.
Men show a very different attitude toward the technology. Fewer than 30% of men across all age groups use computer programs to discuss their personal issues. Men in their 30s showed the most interest in treating the AI like a counselor, but they still only reached 29.1%.
The survey asked everyone to choose all the different ways they use AI in their daily lives. Most people use the tools for simple tasks. Exactly 76.4% of all users said they use the software to search for information and do basic research. Another 33.9% said they use it to write and edit text. Talking about personal worries came in third place overall, capturing 23.3% of the total votes.
However, the priority list changes drastically depending on who you ask. While looking up information remained the top reason for everyone, getting advice on personal worries ranked as the second-most-popular reason for teenage girls and for adult women between the ages of 20 and 49, getting emotional advice ranked third.
People also showed a surprising amount of faith in the computer programs. The survey found that 38.6% of users completely or mostly trust the AI’s advice on personal relationships and social interactions. They take the robotic suggestions seriously when dealing with real human friends and family members.
This trust grows significantly stronger among the youth. A massive 63.1% of teenage girls said they trust the relationship advice they get from the machine. Young boys also showed higher levels of trust than older men, suggesting that the younger generation feels much more comfortable taking life advice from a computer screen.
The government also asked citizens about the positive and negative effects of using these advanced tools. Many people said the technology helps them gather facts quickly and saves them hours at work or school. Surprisingly, around 10% of the users said talking to the machine actually helps reduce their feelings of loneliness. They enjoy having something to chat with, even if it is not human.
On the negative side, most users report no adverse effects from the software. Yet, a handful of users admitted a growing problem. Some people said they rely entirely too much on the AI to solve their problems. Because the computer gives them answers so fast, they realize they spend much less time thinking for themselves.
