Remote Work Trends Up Despite Return-to-Office Push
tech Trends: Feature Phones Decline, AI Adoption Lags in Ireland
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Dublin, Ireland - A recent survey reveals a significant shift in technology adoption across Ireland, wiht simpler, older technologies like feature phones and record players experiencing a notable decline in popularity. While the smartphone market has reached saturation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and understanding remain notably low, with a strong public call for regulation.
the Fading Appeal of Simpler Tech
The survey, conducted in June among 1,000 adults nationwide, found that only 11% of respondents own a record player, and a mere 17% use a basic mobile phone. This marks a decrease from 21% in 2024.Interestingly, a substantial 60% of those still using feature phones belong to the “Silent Generation” (those over 80 years old). This trend contrasts with previous observations where younger demographics were opting for simpler devices to escape smartphone overload.
Smartphone Dominance Continues, Digital Divide Narrows
In stark contrast, the smartphone market appears to have plateaued, with usage remaining consistently high at 93% of respondents. the geographical divide in tech adoption, once a prominent feature in earlier surveys, has largely diminished. Both in Dublin and across the rest of the contry, the average household now possesses nine connected devices.
While geographical disparities have lessened, socio-economic and generational divides persist. Younger users continue to lead in the adoption of wearable technology and smartphones.
The Silent Generation Embraces Digital Life
Despite previous concerns about technology’s impact, the silent Generation is increasingly engaging with the digital world. This demographic is showing a growing interest in online shopping and keeping up with social media trends, including celebrities and influencers.
“Despite the historic rapidity of hardware innovations that visibly transformed our lives annually, this era seems to be transitioning into maturity,” commented Reaper, a spokesperson for the survey.The survey also highlighted that 58% of individuals aged 65 and over now go online more than once a day. However, this age group shows less enthusiasm for acquiring new gadgets. A consistent 6% of respondents reported never going online.
AI Apprehension and Slow Adoption
While AI has dominated global headlines,its real-world implications in Ireland are still nascent.The survey revealed a high level of apprehension surrounding new AI technologies, with only 22% of respondents admitting to using tools like ChatGPT. This figure significantly trails global adoption rates.
Moreover, irish citizens appear to be lagging in their understanding of AI, with 28% stating they lack a good grasp of the technology.
“AI is still in its nascent stages,” Reaper explained. “We are more concerned about the impact of AI, continue to have more faith in humans to be less discriminatory than AI, and have a lower than average ability to see the potential benefits of AI.”
The public sentiment strongly favors regulation, with over three-quarters of respondents believing AI must be regulated. Additionally, two-thirds expressed wariness regarding ChatGPT’s potential impact on students.
The survey was conducted in June across 63 sampling locations,encompassing a representative sample of 1,000 adults aged 16 and older.