# Oxford Survey: 51% in Six Countries Use Generative AI Weekly. Learn chatbot, survey and turn to > An AI chatbot is software that answers questions in conversation. The Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford found on October 29, 2026 that 51% of people in six tracked countries use generative AI every week. Learn 11 words including chatbot, survey, turn to and look up from an original English passage, with audio, a plain-English summary, sentence patterns, a dialogue and a quiz. - URL: https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-generative-ai-chatbot-weekly-use-2026 - Author: Ambitious Learner Editorial Team（Ambitious Learner Ambitious Learner） - Published: 2026-11-01 - Last updated: 2026-11-01 - Category: News English ## Key points in 30 seconds The Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford published its Generative AI and News Report 2026. In the six countries tracked since 2024, weekly use of generative AI rose from 34% to 51% and daily use from 7% to 28%, but only 12% are comfortable with news made entirely by AI. This article uses an original English passage, audio and a plain-English summary to teach 11 words, including chatbot, generative AI, survey, turn to, look up and oversight, plus easily confused words, 3 patterns for reporting numbers, a workplace dialogue and an 8-question quiz. - **What happened**: On 29 Oct 2026 the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford reported that 51% of people in six tracked countries use generative AI every week, up from 34% a year earlier. - **AI chatbot in English**: AI chatbot; one that creates content is called a generative AI chatbot. - **turn to meaning**: To go to someone or something for help, as in people turn to chatbots to look up information. - **How to use up from**: current number, up from old number = it has increased; use down from for a decrease. - **Human checking in English**: human oversight; oversight means supervision and checking. ## How Common Are AI Chatbots? A Look at the Latest Oxford Survey **News date: October 29, 2026 | English level: B1–B2 | Topics: technology, AI, media** How many times a week do you open ChatGPT or Gemini? If the answer is "at least once," you are not alone. On October 29, 2026, the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford published its latest generative AI survey and found that, in the six countries it has tracked for years, more than half of people now use generative AI every week. The story is close to everyday life and full of the patterns that reports on numbers always use, such as "up from A to B" and "more than doubled." Learning words like **chatbot, survey and turn to** will make international news easier to follow, and they are useful when you present data in meetings or talk about AI tools with colleagues abroad. Below, you get the key points in 30 seconds, then an original English passage written by us, with a summary, vocabulary, sentence patterns, a dialogue and a short quiz, so you can learn from this story in one go. ## The Oxford Generative AI Survey in 30 Seconds | Question | Answer | | --- | --- | | Who ran the survey? | The Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford published the Generative AI and News Report 2026; the online survey was carried out by YouGov. | | Who was surveyed? | About 2,000 people in each of nine countries: Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Japan, Norway, the UK and the US. The survey ran from August 14 to September 28. | | What is the key number? | In the six countries tracked since 2024 (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK and the US), weekly use of generative AI rose from 34% to 51%, and daily use rose from 7% in 2024 to 28%. | | Which tool is used most? | Across the six countries, 34% use ChatGPT every week. Google Gemini rose from 11% to 24%, more than doubling. | | Do people use AI for news? | Not much. Across the six countries, only 9% use generative AI to get news each week (8% on average across the nine countries). | | How much do people trust it? | On average across the nine countries, only 12% are comfortable with news made entirely by AI, rising to 19% when there is human oversight. | Note: Australia, Finland and Norway were surveyed for the first time this year, so "six countries" figures such as 51% do not include Australia. Do not read them as "51% of Australians use AI every week." Source: [the original Reuters Institute report](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/generative-ai-and-news-report-2026-standalone-tools-information-infrastructure). ## The English Passage [🔊 Listen to the news story](https://media.ambitious-learner.com/articles/news-english-generative-ai-chatbot-weekly-use-2026/audio/ea44635d-e52f-4bc4-bf8c-a1afd430d25e.mp3) First, play the audio at the top of the article without reading along, and try to catch three points: How many people use AI every week? Which tool is used most? Are people comfortable with news written by AI? Then read the English passage below in full, and check it against the plain-English summary in the next section. **English Level: Intermediate (B1–B2) | Topic: Technology, AI and Media** ### More People Now Use AI Chatbots Every Week A new study from the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford shows that AI chatbots are quickly becoming part of everyday life. The report, published on October 29, surveyed about 2,000 people in each of nine countries, including Australia, Japan, the UK and the US. The online survey was carried out by YouGov between mid-August and late September. In the six countries that the researchers have tracked since 2024, half of the people surveyed (51%) now use a generative AI tool at least once a week, up from 34% a year ago. Daily use has grown even faster, rising from 7% in 2024 to 28% this year. ChatGPT is still the most popular tool, used weekly by 34% of people, while Google's Gemini has more than doubled to 24%. One of the main reasons people turn to chatbots is to look up information. However, in those six countries, only 9% use them to get news each week. Many people also meet AI without choosing it. Across all nine countries, 57% say they saw AI-generated answers or summaries in search engines in the past week. Trust is still a big issue. Just 12% of people feel comfortable with news made entirely by AI, rising to 19% when there is some human oversight. The findings suggest that many readers still want people to stay involved in the news they read. The English above is an original study passage based on information from [the Reuters Institute's Generative AI and News Report 2026](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/generative-ai-and-news-report-2026-standalone-tools-information-infrastructure). It is not a word-for-word copy of the report or of any news outlet. ## Plain-English Summary A new study from the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford says AI chatbots are quickly becoming a normal part of daily life. The report, published on October 29, asked about 2,000 people in each of nine countries, including Australia, Japan, the UK and the US. YouGov ran the online survey between mid-August and the end of September. In the six countries the researchers have followed since 2024, half of the people asked (51%) now use a generative AI tool at least weekly. A year ago it was 34%. Daily use grew even faster, from 7% in 2024 to 28% this year. ChatGPT is still the favorite, with 34% using it every week, while Google's Gemini has more than doubled to 24%. A main reason people go to chatbots is to find information. Still, in those six countries only 9% use them for news each week. Many people also come across AI without choosing it: across all nine countries, 57% say they saw AI-written answers or summaries in search engines last week. Trust is still a big problem. Only 12% are comfortable with news made completely by AI, and the figure goes up to 19% if people check the work. This suggests that many readers still want humans involved in the news they read. ## 11 Useful English Words for Talking About AI and Data After the passage, here are 11 words and phrases in three groups: AI tools, surveys and data, and everyday phrasal verbs. You will use them when you read the news, present numbers in meetings or chat with colleagues about AI. ### 1. chatbot (n.) Pronunciation: /ˈtʃætbɑːt/ Made from chat + bot (a software robot): a program that answers questions in conversation. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, which write their own text, are often called AI chatbots or generative AI chatbots in the news. **In the news:** AI chatbots are quickly becoming part of everyday life. In plain English: AI chatbots are turning into a normal part of daily life. **Example:** I asked a chatbot to help me plan a three-day trip to Tainan. Meaning: the speaker used an AI tool to plan a short trip. **Common collocations:** - AI chatbot: a chatbot powered by AI - use / ask a chatbot: to talk to a chatbot - customer service chatbot: a chatbot that answers customer questions ### 2. generative AI (n.) Generative comes from the verb generate (to produce). Generative AI is AI that can produce text, images, sound and other content. **In the news:** half of the people surveyed now use a generative AI tool at least once a week In plain English: about 50% of the people asked use an AI tool that creates content every week. **Example:** Our company has started using generative AI to write first drafts of emails. Meaning: the company uses AI to write early versions of emails. ### 3. survey (v. / n.) Pronunciation: verb /sərˈveɪ/, noun /ˈsɜːrveɪ/ The stress is on the second syllable for the verb and on the first for the noun. The people surveyed means the people who answered the questions. **In the news:** The report surveyed about 2,000 people in each of nine countries. In plain English: the researchers asked about 2,000 people in every one of the nine countries. **Example:** Our HR team surveyed all employees about working from home. Meaning: HR asked every employee for their opinion on remote work. **Common collocations:** - carry out / conduct a survey: to run a survey - an online survey: a survey done on the internet - the people surveyed: the people who answered ### 4. carry out (phr. v.) More formal than do. It often goes with survey, study, research and plan. News reports often use the passive: was carried out by… **In the news:** The online survey was carried out by YouGov. In plain English: YouGov ran the online survey. **Example:** The school will carry out a fire drill next Monday. Meaning: the school will hold a fire drill next Monday. ### 5. track (v.) As a noun, track means a path or a running track. As a verb it means to follow something over time, and it is common in research, delivery services and money apps. **In the news:** the six countries that the researchers have tracked since 2024 In plain English: the six countries the researchers have kept measuring since 2024. **Example:** I use an app to track how much I spend on bubble tea every month. Meaning: the app records the speaker's monthly bubble tea spending. ### 6. more than double (phr.) As a verb, double means to become twice as large. More than double means to grow to over twice the size. The opposite idea is halve (to cut in half). **In the news:** Google's Gemini has more than doubled to 24%. In plain English: Gemini's weekly use is now over twice what it was, at 24%. **Example:** Rent in this area has more than doubled in ten years. Meaning: rent today is over twice what it was ten years ago. ### 7. turn to (phr. v.) turn to + person or thing means to go to someone or something for help when you have a problem. **In the news:** One of the main reasons people turn to chatbots is to look up information. In plain English: a top reason people use chatbots is to find information. **Example:** When I get stuck on English grammar, I turn to my tutor first. Meaning: the speaker asks their tutor for help first. ### 8. look up (phr. v.) When the object is a noun, it can go in the middle or after: look up a word / look a word up. When the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle: look it up. **In the news:** …is to look up information. In plain English: …is to find information. **Example:** Can you look up the bus schedule to Kenting for me? Meaning: please find the bus times to Kenting. ### 9. AI-generated (adj.) A compound adjective made from a noun + past participle. Similar ones are computer-generated and user-generated. **In the news:** 57% say they saw AI-generated answers or summaries in search engines. In plain English: 57% noticed answers or summaries written by AI in search engines. **Example:** Some of the photos in that ad were AI-generated. Meaning: AI created some of the photos in that ad. ### 10. be comfortable with (phr.) with is followed by a noun or a gerund (V-ing). Not comfortable with is a polite way to say you are not very happy with something. **In the news:** Just 12% of people feel comfortable with news made entirely by AI. In plain English: only 12% are happy to read news made completely by AI. **Example:** I'm not comfortable with sharing my phone number online. Meaning: the speaker does not feel safe giving out a phone number on the internet. ### 11. oversight (n.) Pronunciation: /ˈoʊvərsaɪt/ Human oversight means people watching over and checking the work. Note that oversight can also mean a mistake caused by not noticing something, so check the context. **In the news:** rising to 19% when there is some human oversight In plain English: the number goes up to 19% if people check the work. **Example:** The project needs more oversight from the manager. Meaning: the manager should check the project more closely. ## chatbot, look up, up from: Easily Confused Words These word pairs often appear together in AI news and data reports. Their meanings are close, but they are used differently. | English | Difference | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | chatbot / generative AI | A chatbot is a program you talk to. Generative AI is the wider technology that can create content, including tools that make images and video. | ChatGPT is a popular generative AI chatbot. | | look up / search | look up means to check one specific piece of information (a word, a timetable). search means to hunt through the web or a database, and is often followed by for. | I looked up the word. / I searched for cheap flights. | | up from / down from | current number + up from old number means it has increased; down from means it has decreased. | Sales reached 40%, up from 25% last year. | | double / more than double | double means to become twice as big; more than double means to grow to over twice the size. | The number of users has doubled. | Tip: English news often puts "now" and "before" in the same sentence. If you can read up from and rising from A to B, finance and technology news becomes much easier. ## Grammar Focus: 3 Sentence Patterns for Reporting Numbers All three patterns come from the passage. You can use them directly when you present data, write emails or describe a chart in a speaking test. ### Pattern 1: S + rise / grow + from A to B **Original sentence:** Daily use has grown even faster, **rising from** 7% in 2024 **to** 28% this year. **Key point:** After the main clause, a participle phrase "rising from A to B" adds the size of the change, so you do not need a second full sentence. For a decrease, use falling from A to B. **Your turn:** Our team's sales grew last quarter, **rising from** NT$2 million **to** NT$2.6 million. Meaning: sales went up from two million to 2.6 million Taiwan dollars. ### Pattern 2: current number, up from + old number **Original sentence:** …51% now use a generative AI tool at least once a week, **up from** 34% a year ago. **Key point:** "up from + number + time" goes at the end and gives both "now" and "before" in one go. It is the most common way to report numbers in the news. For a decrease, use down from. **Your turn:** About 40% of our students now take classes online, **up from** 25% last year. Meaning: online classes are more common than they were last year. ### Pattern 3: One of the main reasons (that) + S + V + is to V **Original sentence:** **One of the main reasons** people turn to chatbots **is** to look up information. **Key point:** The subject is One (singular), so the verb is is. The part people turn to chatbots is a relative clause with that left out. Reasons must be plural. **Your turn:** **One of the main reasons** I study English **is** to work in Australia. Meaning: working in Australia is a key reason the speaker studies English. ## Workplace English Dialogue: Talking About AI Tools in the Break Room **Situation:** In the office break room, colleagues Amy and Kevin talk about this AI survey and share how they use AI tools. ### English Conversation - **Amy:** Did you see the news? Half of the people in a big survey use AI chatbots every week. - **Kevin:** I'm not surprised. I turn to ChatGPT almost every day at work. - **Amy:** Really? What do you use it for? - **Kevin:** Mostly to look up information and write first drafts of emails. - **Amy:** Do you trust AI-generated answers, though? - **Kevin:** Not completely. I always check the facts myself. A little human oversight helps. - **Amy:** Same here. I'm comfortable with AI helping me, but not doing everything for me. - **Kevin:** Exactly. It's a tool, not a boss. ### Plain-English Notes - Amy starts by sharing a survey result. Kevin says he is not surprised, because he uses ChatGPT almost every day at work. - Kevin uses it to find information and write early drafts of emails, but he always checks the facts himself. - Amy likes AI helping her but does not want it to do everything. Kevin sums it up: it is a tool, not a boss. ### 3 Useful Expressions from the Dialogue 1. **Did you see the news?** The most natural way to start small talk about a story. 2. **…, though.** At the end of a sentence it means "however" or "on the other hand", and sounds more casual than starting with But. 3. **It's a tool, not a boss.** An "A, not B" contrast: short and strong, great for stating your view in a discussion. ## Reading and Vocabulary Quiz Now test how well you understood the passage. Try not to look back at the article. Choose your answers and confirm to see the explanations. ## Put Current-Events English into Practice Understanding the news is only the first step. You have really learned chatbot, survey and turn to when you can use them to talk about current events. AI is great for checking words and fixing sentences, but to practice pronunciation, quick speaking reactions and real-time expression, you still need live feedback from a human teacher. The [one-on-one Business English program](https://ambitious-learner.com/en/programs/business-english) at Ambitious Learner is built around your level and goals, and teachers can help you practice speaking and discussion with current-events stories and prepare workplace English presentations. If you are also planning to study in the Philippines or take a working holiday in Australia, feel free to talk to us and we will help you find the right study plan. For course details and trial lessons, ask us through [our LINE account](https://lin.ee/R3GZRrW). ## Further Reading - [Goldman Sachs: Could AI Displace Up to 9% of Workers?](https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-goldman-sachs-ai-job-displacement): more on AI and work, with displace, recession and productivity. - [BBC News Channel Goes Live on YouTube](https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-bbc-news-youtube-livestream): learn livestream, trial and impartial. - [What Does Burnout Mean?](https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-workplace-burnout-australia-survey): 11 workplace English words from an Australian survey. - [2026 Nobel Prize in Economics Announced](https://ambitious-learner.com/en/resources/news-english-nobel-economics-2026): learn inflation, interest rate and boom and bust. ## Sources - [Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure](https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/generative-ai-and-news-report-2026-standalone-tools-information-infrastructure) (Felix Simon, Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Richard Fletcher, October 29, 2026) Data checked on: November 1, 2026. The figures 51%, 34%, 28%, ChatGPT 34%, Gemini 24% and 9% for news use are for the six tracked countries; 57% for AI answers or summaries in search and 12% / 19% comfort with AI news are averages across the nine countries. The English passage, example sentences, dialogue and quiz are original teaching content by Ambitious Learner and are not a word-for-word translation of the report. ## FAQ ### How do you say AI chatbot in English? The term is AI chatbot. Chatbot is made from chat and bot (a software robot). Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, which write their own text, are often called generative AI chatbots in the news. ### What does chatbot mean, and how is it different from generative AI? A chatbot is a program that answers questions in conversation. Generative AI is the wider technology that can create text, images, sound and other content. A chatbot like ChatGPT is just one use of generative AI. ### How many people use AI every week, according to the Oxford survey? According to the report the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford published on October 29, 2026, weekly use of generative AI in the six countries tracked since 2024 (Argentina, Denmark, France, Japan, the UK and the US) rose from 34% a year earlier to 51%. Australia was included for the first time this year and is not one of those six countries. ### How do you use up from and down from in English news reports? "Current number, up from past number" means the number has increased; down from means it has decreased. For example: Prices rose 5%, up from 3% last year. This is one of the most common patterns for reporting data in the news. ### Is it effective to learn English with an AI chatbot? AI is great for checking words, fixing sentences and practicing simple conversations, but its answers are not always correct, and it is harder for it to give instant feedback on your pronunciation and speaking habits. A better approach is to use AI as a helper and combine it with practice and correction from a human teacher.