A pedestrian walks along the Esplanade du Trocadero with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the background at sunrise on April 6, 2026 in Paris. (Photo: AFP)

As many as 65 percent of French people use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, according to a survey published Friday by French polling institute Elabe.

Entitled "The French and Artificial Intelligence," the survey was conducted early this month among a sample of 1,503 people representative of residents of metropolitan France aged 18 and above.

The use of AI reveals strong generational, social and territorial differences, as the survey shows that among people aged 18 to 34, 87 percent say they use AI, compared with 54 percent among those over 50. The proportion reaches 86 percent among executives, compared with 56 percent among workers. It stands at 71 percent in major metropolitan areas, compared with 57 percent in rural areas.

Moreover, the survey shows that 68 percent of respondents believe that mastering AI will become a central skill in the society of tomorrow, while 75 percent say they are in favor of introducing courses in schools to raise students' awareness of the limitations and biases of AI.

As to AI regulations, 46 percent want strong oversight, even if it slows innovation, while 43 percent prefer rules that strike a balance with the development of innovation, according to the survey.