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Nearly Half of Australians Use GenAI as New Index Flags Emerging 'AI Divide'

The 2025 Digital Inclusion Index reports higher skills and access yet persistent gaps for older, remote and First Nations communities.

Overview

  • The national survey finds 45.6% of Australians recently used generative AI, rising to 69% among 18–34 year-olds and about 79% among students.
  • Digital ability improved since 2023, with skills and confidence up 8.7 points, yet about one in five people remain excluded from fully accessing, affording or using technology.
  • Usage patterns vary by context, with remote residents more than twice as likely to use AI chatbots for conversation (19% vs 7.7% in metropolitan areas).
  • People who speak a language other than English report higher use of GenAI (about 58% vs 41% for English-only speakers), and roughly a third of people with disability have used these tools.
  • Responses include Telstra’s pledge to support digital inclusion for 1 million people by FY2030, revised voluntary AI guidelines, a promised national AI plan by year’s end, and further First Nations data mapping due in December.