New research reveals an AI confidence gap as Get Online Week puts practical AI skills in the spotlight
- 51% are unsure when it is appropriate to use AI in everyday life
- 27% feel confident using AI
- Confidence falls to 10% among over-75s
- 39% are worried about AI’s impact on society and the environment
More than half of Australians are unsure when it is appropriate to use AI in everyday life, with new research revealing a significant gap between the pace of the technology and people’s confidence using it.
Good Things Australia’s 2026 research found only 27% of Australians feel confident using AI, falling to just 10% among people aged over 75. Fifty-one per cent are unsure when it is appropriate to use AI tools in everyday life.
Good Things Australia CEO Jess Wilson said the findings showed that simply having access to AI tools was not the same as knowing how to use them safely and confidently.
“Being able to open an AI tool isn’t the same as knowing when to use it, what to trust or when to question what it gives you. AI is moving incredibly quickly and people are starting from very different places. We need to make sure people have somewhere they can ask questions, learn at their own pace and build confidence.”
The findings come ahead of Get Online Week 2026, running from 19-25 October, when community organisations around Australia will offer free practical support to help people build their digital skills and confidence. Around half of this year’s Get Online Week events will include support or activities focused on AI, reflecting growing demand for help understanding and using the technology.
