Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term that has burst into our vocabulary with astonishing speed and force. But it’s far more than just a buzzword. It’s a growing set of tools and applications that are rapidly weaving themselves into our everyday lives. For some, AI represents progress and possibility — a revolutionary assistant. For others, it sparks deep unease, a glimpse of something that could replace rather than empower us.
Beyond technology, AI also poses one of the most profound philosophical challenges of our time: where do we draw the line between human and machine, between natural and artificial intelligence?
To better understand this uncharted new world we’ve begun to traverse, we sought answers to a few essential questions — starting with how people actually use AI in their daily lives.
Almost half of respondents said they not only know about AI but already use it (47%). Unsurprisingly, usage is far higher among younger generations — particularly Generation Z (76%), who have grown up as digital natives. Familiarity with AI is also notably higher among university students (74%), and in people in higher social and educational brackets.
But how exactly are people using it? The results are diverse. The most common use is for information and news, cited by 65% of users. Nearly one in two say they integrate AI into their professional lives (46%), especially Millennials (67%) and freelancers (75%). Over four in ten use it for educational purposes (43%), particularly students and Gen Z (74%).
Interestingly, AI is also creeping into more personal areas: 32% use it for private matters and 26% for health-related searches. In other words, AI is no longer just a professional or academic tool — it’s becoming part of our most intimate decision-making.
When asked how they perceive AI — as a useful tool or a threat to society — the responses were split but revealing. Half (50%) see it as something that simplifies and improves life, while only 20% disagree. On the other hand, opinions on its potential threat are more divided: 34% believe AI poses a societal danger, while 31% disagree.
Interestingly, these attitudes don’t follow political lines. Instead, they appear to be shaped by social and demographic factors. Younger generations, highly educated individuals, freelancers, and white-collar workers are far more likely to view AI as helpful. This mirrors the demographic pattern observed in AI usage.
And then comes the question that borders on the existential: will AI ultimately replace aspects of human life? On this, most agree — 75% believe it will. Strikingly, those who already use AI are even more convinced (82%) than those who don’t (69%), suggesting that familiarity breeds not just acceptance, but also awareness of its transformative potential.
In daily life, AI already feels embedded — especially for younger, educated professionals who are making it part of their work and routines. Yet on a philosophical level, the question of what separates human from machine remains wide open.
Perhaps we can find a metaphor in the haunting final scene of Blade Runner (1982). As the dying replicant turns to its hunter, Deckard (played by Harrison Ford), it murmurs: “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”
Giannis Balampanidis is a political analyst and Head of Political & Social Research at Metron Analysis.
