Meanwhile, almost one-fifth (19%) have never tried using AI, while 7% tested it initially and then stopped. Only 5% of respondents say they do not know at all what AI means.
Half of those who do not use AI say they prefer to solve things on their own or talk to real people. Others have not yet found a practical reason to try the technology, while a quarter of non-users are afraid of it and consider it dangerous for society.
When it comes to applications, ChatGPT is by far the most popular, with 98% of Romanians having heard of it, followed by Gemini (79%) and Claude (37%). According to the study, those who use these tools primarily seek them for everyday needs: 83% use AI during their free time, while 58% also use it at work.
The same study shows that age is the main factor determining openness to technology. While almost 4 out of 10 seniors (Baby Boomers) (39%) already use artificial intelligence, interest visibly increases as age decreases: 66% among Generation X and 72% among Millennials. The peak is reached among young people from Generation Z, where almost 9 out of 10 respondents (89%) are active users.
As part of the study, respondents were challenged to take a practical test: they were given 2 short texts and asked to identify the version written by a human.
The result confirms the general confusion: more than half of participants (52%) fell into the trap, believing that the text written by artificial intelligence had a human author. Only 48% identified the correct version.
The level of acceptance of the technology depends directly on the personal stakes of each situation. Romanians are least tolerant of a lack of transparency in healthcare: almost one-third (32%) say they would feel betrayed if they found out that explanations for their medical tests had been generated by AI. Similarly, 27% reject the idea of secretly talking to an online psychologist or counselor.
Reluctance also remains high in other sensitive areas of everyday life. More than a quarter of respondents (27%) do not accept being transferred to a virtual assistant when they call a bank believing they are talking to a human, while 26% would feel bothered if a message of emotional support came from an algorithm.
Even in careers, non-transparent automation is not viewed favorably: 24% would be dissatisfied if a recruiter evaluated their CV without stating that they use AI.
At the opposite end are the pragmatists: 15% of Romanians say they are not bothered by the presence of an undisclosed AI, as long as it does its job flawlessly.
“People accept new technology. Discomfort arises when they discover that they spoke to an AI only after a medical decision or a discussion about money. These are moments when any error comes at a cost. Hiding these tools breaks the bond of trust. Companies have a simple solution at hand to retain their customers: directly state when they are using a virtual assistant,” said Cori Cimpoca, Founder of MKOR.
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