Nearly 40% of People in Their 50s and 60s Have 'Secrets Only Told to AI': BEYOND AGE Survey

BEYOND AGE Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yamato Ichihara) conducted an awareness survey targeting 602 men and women aged 50 to 69 nationwide on the topic of 'Things you can't ask people, but have asked only generative AI.' This survey aimed to clarify how people in their 50s and 60s are utilizing generative AI as an outlet for their concerns and the emotions they harbor towards it.

Over 60% Use Generative AI 'Several Times a Month or More' When asked about the frequency of generative AI usage, 64.3% of the respondents reported using it 'several times a month or more.' With 22.6% using it 'almost daily' and 24.4% 'several times a week,' it is evident that generative AI usage is quietly penetrating the 50s and 60s demographic. Conversely, 35.7% answered they 'hardly ever use it,' indicating an ongoing polarization between users and non-users.

The Entry Points for 'Unaskable Concerns' are 'General Knowledge,' 'Health,' and 'Money' When asked about 'genres they cannot ask people but have asked generative AI,' the top responses were 'General knowledge, word meanings, manners' (41.1%), 'Health and physical concerns (aging, menopause, etc.)' (40.6%), and 'Money, pensions, asset management, debt, inheritance' (37.7%). These are all areas where people feel it's 'too late to ask now.' Furthermore, previously taboo subjects such as mental health (25.6%), marital relations (8.3%), nursing care (8.8%), and end-of-life planning (8.8%) are beginning to emerge as AI 'consultation genres.'

Men Ask About 'Money', Women About 'Health': Consultation Topics Split by Gender Comparing consultation genres by gender, 'Money and pensions' (45.5%) topped the list for men, followed by 'General knowledge' (41.5%) and 'Health' (35.7%). For women, 'Health' (47.2%), 'General knowledge' (40.5%), and 'Mental ailments' (32.5%) ranked highest, showing a pronounced interest in healthcare and mental wellness. The 'angle' of concerns differs significantly by gender, suggesting the need for differentiated entry points in communication design.

Reasons for Confiding in AI: 'Not Serious Enough for an Expert, but Hard to Tell People' The most common reason for confiding only in generative AI was 'Not serious enough to visit an expert (doctor, lawyer, etc.)' (32.6%), followed by 'Don't want to pay consultation fees or spend money' (28.4%), and 'Don't have anyone close to talk honestly with' (27.6%). A structure emerges where AI is chosen as an outlet for 'neither too light nor too heavy concerns,' positioned between 'professional consultations with doctors/lawyers' and 'casual chats with family/friends.' It also functions as a means to avoid the 'awkwardness born from human interaction,' with reasons like 'Too embarrassed to tell people' (22.5%) and 'Don't want to be lectured or judged' (12.4%).

Emotions Towards AI: 'Casualness' and 'Security of Not Being Judged' Stand Out When asked about their feelings towards generative AI during consultations, the most frequent response was 'It's casual because it's a machine' (50.9%). This was followed by 'I feel secure because I won't be judged/denied' (29.2%) and 'Easier to talk to than family or friends' (23.8%). The fact that they 'won't be judged or denied' is the decisive reason for choosing AI as a confidant. On the other hand, a certain number hold concerns about dependency, with 10.1% stating, 'I feel uneasy that I might be relying on it too much.'

Nearly 70% Experience a Positive Shift: Feeling 'Relieved' or 'Refreshed' Post-Consultation Regarding the change in feelings after consulting generative AI, 69.8% showed a positive reaction, combining 'Relieved to get a useful answer' (53.5%) and 'Felt refreshed/saved' (16.3%). This suggests that dialogue with AI contributes not only to information retrieval but also to emotional organization. Although minimal, 'Left feeling more conflicted' (6.7%) exists, making AI's answer quality and emotional consideration key to continued usage.

About 40% Say 'Only AI Knows'. A New 'Realm of Secrets' When asked how much they discuss their AI consultations with close associates, 38.8% responded, 'I haven't told anyone (only AI knows).' If we include 'I've only told parts of it' (46.3%), 85.1% are in a state where they 'haven't told everything to family or friends.' A picture emerges where AI is creating a new 'space to vent' that could not be filled by traditional human relationships.

Even with AI Proliferation, Over 70% Say 'Frequency of Consulting Humans Won't Change'