Understanding Public Awareness, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Perceptions About ChatGPT in Saudi Arabia: A Road Map for...

BACKGROUND Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) is an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tool that has become increasingly integrated into daily life. In Saudi Arabia, government initiatives actively encourage the adoption of AI technologies, yet information on public perceptions of this technology remains insufficient. This study assessed public awareness, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about ChatGPT in Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among individuals living Saudi Arabia, from July to September 2025. Data were collected via an online questionnaire consisting of 25 items collecting information on demographic characteristics, their perceptions, awareness, and use of ChatGPT, and their attitudes and perceived obstacles regarding ChatGPT. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyzing using SPSS version 26. RESULTS Of participants 1069, 56.7% were female and 76.5% held a university degree. While 48.7% were somewhat familiar with ChatGPT, over half (54.6%) of them reported positive attitudes toward ChatGPT. Perceived benefits included productivity and educational enhancement, but concerns centered on overdependence (61.3%), incorrect information (55.7%), job loss (54.2%), and biased content (53.5%). Key obstacles were lack of credibility (76%) and confidentiality concerns (68.5%). The findings indicate that gender (P=0.001), age (P=0.001), and educational attainment (P=0.001) are important factors influencing familiarity and comfort with ChatGPT in daily life. CONCLUSIONS The Saudi public demonstrates a balanced perspective toward ChatGPT, recognizing its potential to enhance productivity and education while expressing valid concerns about trust and accuracy. Targeted awareness and policy measures are needed to build confidence and responsible adoption.