Since the release of ChatGPT at the end of 2022, the impact of artificial intelligence language models on society has sparked widespread discussion. Latest research shows that the application of AI writing tools in multiple fields is rapidly expanding, especially in low-education areas in the United States. Through an analysis of more than 300 million texts, a research team at Stanford University found that the proportion of AI language models used in professional communication has reached one-quarter, a trend that shows that AI technology is profoundly changing people's communication methods.
The study covers data from January 2022 to September 2024, including 687,241 consumer complaints, 537,413 company press releases, 3.043 million jobs, and 15,919 UN press releases. Research results show that AI accounts for 18% of the auxiliary role in consumer financial complaints, while this proportion is even higher in company press releases, reaching 24%. In recruitment information and UN press releases, AI application rates were 15% and 14% respectively. These data show that the penetration rate of AI writing tools in different fields is gradually increasing.
It is worth noting that although the overall AI adoption rate is higher in urban areas (18.2% vs. 10.9%), AI writing tools are used more frequently in areas with lower education levels. In areas with lower education levels than the state median, AI adoption rate reached 19.9%, compared with 17.4% in areas with higher education levels. This phenomenon is contrary to the previous trend of technology adoption. Generally, people with high education will accept new technologies earlier. The research team believes that this may be because low-education regions have a more urgent need to improve work efficiency, which has promoted the rapid popularization of AI tools.
In addition, the study revealed significant differences between states. Arkansas has the highest adoption rate at 29.2%, while West Virginia has the lowest adoption rate at just 2.6%. This difference may be related to the states’ economic structure, technological infrastructure, and acceptance of new technologies. Since the release of ChatGPT, the utilization rate of AI writing tools in all industries has increased rapidly and has stabilized by the end of 2023, indicating that AI technology has gradually become an important tool in daily work.
The research team noted that although their analysis focused mainly on English content, the actual usage of AI writing tools may be higher. With the widespread application of AI technology, all sectors of society may face more and more challenges in communication, such as doubting the authenticity of information. Therefore, how to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information while enjoying the convenience brought by AI will become an important issue that needs to be solved in the future.
Overall, Stanford University research reveals the rapid popularity of AI writing tools in multiple fields, especially in low-education areas. This trend not only changes the way people work, but also brings new challenges and opportunities for future technological development and social communication.