General AI Intelligence: AI seeing adoption across whole of society, from business to education

New research reveals the widespread integration of AI across diverse segments of society, from corporate communications to childhood education. Multiple studies conducted by leading institutions illuminate how artificial intelligence is reshaping communication patterns, business operations, and learning approaches, while simultaneously raising important questions about its impact on critical thinking and authenticity in content creation.

Key adoption metrics: Stanford University researchers found significant AI usage in formal communications by late 2024.

• AI-generated or modified text appeared in 24% of corporate press releases and 18% of US consumer complaints.
• The technology was detected in 15% of job postings and 14% of United Nations press releases.
• Usage stabilized between mid- to late 2023 after an initial surge following ChatGPT‘s launch.

Business implementation: Small businesses are increasingly leveraging AI for operational efficiency.

• Goldman Sachs found 69% of small businesses now use AI for cost and time savings, up from 56% in 2023.
• The technology is primarily used for content creation, code writing, applicant screening, and inventory management.
• Younger and smaller firms, particularly in science and tech sectors, showed higher AI adoption rates.

Democratization effect: AI appears to be serving as an equalizing force in written communication.

• Areas with lower education levels demonstrated slightly higher AI adoption rates in consumer complaints.
• This pattern reverses typical technology adoption trends, suggesting AI’s potential as a writing assistance tool.
• The Stanford study indicates AI could democratize content creation while warning of potential authenticity concerns.

Educational impact: AI is making inroads into early childhood education with mixed results.

• Nearly one-third of children ages 0-8 have used AI for school-related learning.
• 23% of parents reported mostly positive impacts, while 55% observed no significant effect.
• The technology’s educational value remains under evaluation.

Critical thinking concerns: Research from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft reveals complex cognitive implications.

• Increased reliance on AI correlates with decreased critical thinking.
• Many users still maintain analytical skills through fact-checking and editing AI outputs.
• The findings suggest the importance of balanced AI usage to preserve cognitive capabilities.