Overall a fifth of Brits – 21% – have used AI for help in changing a lightbulb with people from Birmingham the most likely to need help with 29% from the city admitting they had used it for the task
How many people does it take to change a lightbulb? Well, we don’t know how many humans but it looks like AI might be able to offer a helping hand.
That’s because three out of ten young people need AI to change a lightbulb, a poll found. Researchers found 31% of Generation Z – those aged 16 to 26 – use AI for instructions.
The study found they use AI sites like ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity for guidance on the basic household task.
Generation Z marketing executive Vicky Saunders, 21, from Southampton, said changing a lightbulb is not as straightforward as people think and that she has used AI tools for the task to be on the safe side. She said: “I always am on the side of caution when I do anything involving electricity.
“AI is brilliant for bringing you up to speed and making sure you think clearly about what you are doing.
“For instance reminding you to disconnect the power at the mains to be on the safe side and letting the old bulb cool before you handle it.
“I live on my own and that has made me super cautious and AI gives me more confidence with any DIY task I do.”
Overall, a fifth of Brits – 21% – have used AI for help in changing a lightbulb with people Birmingham the most likely to need help – with 29 per cent from the city admitting they had used it for the task.
That compares with 24% of Millennials – those aged 27 to 42 – who need AI help with the task and only 17% of Generation X – those aged 42 to 58.
Baby boomers – those aged 59 and over – are the least likely to turn to AI to change a lightbulb with just 12% having done so.
The home assistance provider HomeServe asked 2,000 UK adults if they needed to use AI tools to help them with home maintenance including changing a lightbulb.
Spokesman Brian Sweeney said: “AI can be a useful tool for understanding how to perform DIY tasks – even something as basic as changing a lightbulb.”
Overall another 32% needed AI to unblock the sink, bleed a radiator or fix a leaking tap with 29% using it to check boiler pressure and fix a toilet.
A further 22% have used AI to re-set a fuse box with 21% using it to locate a stopcock.
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