Australia ranks equal lowest on global AI sentiment as use rises, EY study finds

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 11 May 2026

Australia ranks equal lowest for AI sentiment, trailing 21 other countries, according to EY’s latest EY Global AI Sentiment Study. The result highlights a trust gap that could slow confidence in adoption and value creation.

AI use and exposure in Australia continue to rise, with 77 per cent of Australians reporting they use AI. However, Australia’s EY AI Sentiment Index is 52 out of 100 (well below the global average of 66), reinforcing the gap between use and trust.

“Australians are using AI, but they are doing so cautiously,” said EY Regional Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for Oceania, Katherine Boiciuc.

“There is openness to AI where it is visible, familiar and clearly improves everyday decisions, but there is greater hesitation when systems feel opaque, risky or beyond human control.”

Key findings include:

• 51 per cent of Australians say they like the idea of using AI to simplify life and support choices, compared with 64 per cent globally, highlighting more cautious sentiment locally.
• 26 per cent of Australians agree that human oversight is not needed even if AI is accurate. This underscores strong expectations for control and accountability.
• Australians are most comfortable with AI in low-risk, everyday settings such as customer and retail services (61 per cent). However, in higher‑risk areas such as government and financial services, fewer than four in ten Australians report conscious AI use.
• 68 per cent of Australians are worried about losing control over decisions made by AI on their behalf.

“Australians are open to AI when it delivers clear benefits, and when trust, control and human oversight are protected,” said Ms Boiciuc.

“There is a clear public mandate for stronger governance, with 81 per cent of Australians supporting stronger rules for how organisations use AI. Leaders should prioritise transparency, clear accountability and robust data protection.”

“Low sentiment does not mean Australians lack AI ambition. It means adoption will stall unless people believe the technology is working in their interests. Leaders need to turn everyday use into confidence by showing how AI improves decisions, lifts productivity and supports human judgement.”

“Governments also have a critical stewardship role to play by setting clear, enforceable guardrails and strengthening oversight, particularly where AI use is higher risk or less visible to the public.”

Ms Boiciuc said to help close the trust gap, organisations should embed responsible AI governance from design through deployment, clearly explain where and how AI is used, and maintain human oversight for high‑impact decisions.

“Aligning these steps with transparent policies and assurance can help build confidence while enabling the benefits of AI to be realised responsibly.”

Methodology: The EY Global AI Sentiment Study surveyed 18,152 people across 23 countries, including 1,019 in Australia. Fieldwork was conducted March 2026.

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Media Contact:

Hamish Goodall - Corporate Affairs Manager, Oceania
Phone: 0467 346 364
Email: hamish.goodall@au.ey.com