Seoul: South Koreans' level of artificial intelligence (AI) utilization is 1.7 times more advanced than the global average, Google Korea said Thursday, citing a report from a global consulting firm.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey published by Public First, a London-based strategy consultancy, revealed that 40 percent of South Koreans surveyed indicated companies preferred candidates with AI capabilities over others during the hiring process. The survey underscored a significant interest among Koreans in AI education, with 74 percent expressing a desire to improve their AI skills.

This enthusiasm for AI-related education extends to South Korean parents, with 85 percent emphasizing the importance of learning AI as a skill comparable to traditional subjects like math and English. The report further delved into the impact of AI education on workplace productivity, noting that training employees in advanced AI prompts could reduce working hours by one-third compared to basic prompts.

Additionally, the annual productivity gain from such education was estimated to range between 2.3 million won and 4.7 million won per person. The survey, conducted from April 17 to 30, included 1,057 adult South Korean nationals, according to Google Korea.