Generative artificial intelligence is arguably the most significant technological development since the inception of the internet. But when we asked Canadians what they thought of the tools in 2024, their response was tepid at best. Just 16 per cent of Canadians said they had used a generative AI chatbot like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Meta AI over the previous twelve months and a paltry 17 per cent said they were excited by the development of these tools.
What a difference a year makes! As AI continues to expand into so many different facets of everyday life, from education and entertainment to productivity and communication and beyond, CIRA’s 2025 Canadian Internet Trends research reveals that Canadians have begun to ride the gen AI wave in much greater numbers. A third of Canadians (33 per cent) now say they have used a generative AI tool or platform in the past twelve months, more than double the figure from 2024.
Canadians are also much more likely to express positive sentiments today about the development of generative AI and what it can do, with 27 per cent of us saying we’re excited compared to just 17 per cent in 2024. Among Canadians who voice their approval about the potential of generative AI, 60 per cent cite technological advancement as the primary reason, while 52 per cent point to its productivity benefits.
How are Canadians using the technology? At work, the top activities and benefits reported by Canadians include creating written content (36 per cent), saving time (39 per cent) and brainstorming new ideas (33 per cent). Outside the workplace, experimentation is the top activity cited by more than half of Canadians for using generative AI (52 per cent), while 47 per cent say they’re using it as a search engine (up from 34 per cent in 2024) and 42 per cent say they’re taking advantage of the power of AI chatbots to create all manner of written content for personal use.
While the year-over-year bump in generative AI usage is significant, the fact remains that the majority of us (67 per cent) remain on the sidelines. Trust is a huge issue, as more than half of us (54 per cent) worry about generative AI and its broader implications for the future. Almost three quarters (73 percent) of Canadians are concerned that generative AI makes it easier to spread fake images or videos, while a slightly smaller share (71 per cent) are worried that it contributes to the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Another pressing issue cited by two thirds of us (67 per cent) is the lack of sufficient regulations and controls governing the use of generative AI.
As generative AI continues its rapid advance and its capabilities grow more powerful and sophisticated, more Canadians will take advantage of them. At what rate, though? We’ll have to wait until next year’s Canadian Internet Trends research to find out.
Dathan is the Director of Product Management for the Cybersecurity & DNS team at CIRA. With over 20 years’ experience in the Cybersecurity and technology space, Dathan is passionate about bringing solutions to the market that solve real world problems. Dathan joined CIRA in the spring of 2025 to help launch new products to help protect Canadian citizens and business from cyberattacks.
