More than half of Taiwanese use AI tools, survey says

A recent FTC survey in Taiwan reveals that over 50 percent of adults have engaged with generative AI tools in the last six months. These tools, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, are large language models capable of generating text, translating languages, and answering queries. ChatGPT was the most widely used, cited by 87.9 percent of respondents, with 56.6 percent identifying it as their primary tool, followed by Gemini at 67.8 percent and 34.6 percent respectively.

The survey highlights a notable willingness to pay for AI services, with 39.8 percent of users subscribing to paid versions. Among these subscribers, nearly 70 percent pay out of pocket, and half spend between NT$500 and NT$1,000 monthly. A significant 76.3 percent of these paid users indicated they would maintain their subscriptions even if prices increased by 10 percent, suggesting a strong perceived value for these services.

Conversely, the 60.2 percent of respondents who rely on free AI services largely do so because they find the free version sufficient for their needs. However, their behavior shifts if service quality declines. If faced with lower usage limits or slower response times, 76.7 percent stated they would switch to another free platform, rather than upgrading to a paid subscription, which only 15.5 percent would consider. This indicates a clear distinction in price sensitivity and perceived value between existing paid users and those who prioritize free access.