Autonomous AI is no longer theoretical as adoption grows despite ongoing trust concerns

• 15% of Singapore EY survey respondents (global 16%) have already used AI that acts on their behalf in the past six months alone
• Security remains greatest concern but adoption rate outpaces fear
• There is an opportunity for Singapore to move from a “transitional” to “pioneer” market

The EY AI Sentiment Survey 2026 revealed that while public debate around artificial intelligence (AI) continues to focus on trust and risk, real‑world behavior tells a different story. Consumers are increasingly integrating AI into daily decision‑making and are already allowing AI systems to act on their behalf.

The annual survey, now in its second edition, surveyed more than 18,000 people aged 18 and older from 23 markets to understand how people perceive and use AI over the last six months. This edition includes 502 respondents from Singapore. The findings make one thing clear: adoption in AI is outpacing confidence.

In the past six months alone, more than eight in 10 respondents (Singapore 84%, global 84%) used AI and 15% (global 16%) report using AI systems that act without human intervention. This suggests AI use is extending beyond initial experimentation and autonomy is no longer a future scenario but an evolving reality.

Manik Bhandari, EY Asean Data and Artificial Intelligence Leader, says:

“The survey findings reflect there is already a growing minority of people who are delegating decisions to AI, while many more are relying on AI as an assistant within everyday life. There is an opportunity for organizations to influence and grow agentic AI acceptance by strategically identifying specific moments, users and markets. For example, a healthcare provider could develop an agent that helps patients manage their medications and check for safety issues, or a public service institution could support citizens to access government services or apply for benefits autonomously. What separates successful implementers from the laggards would be those that reinvent operating models around real business outcomes, effective guardrails and closer human-agent collaboration.”

From assistance to delegation

The survey finds that AI’s rapid adoption has been driven less by increased user trust in the technology and more through familiarity from everyday low-stakes use. Tasks such as route planning, customer support, travel planning and content recommendations have become embedded in daily routines.

That everyday comfort is now laying the groundwork for delegation. Among Singapore respondents:

• 6% (global 9%) have used self‑driving vehicles or autonomous taxis
• 7% (global 10%) have relied on AI agents to purchase products on their behalf
• 8% (global 11%) allow AI to manage banking tasks

Even among those who have not yet used autonomous AI, openness is high. One‑third of respondents (Singapore 33%, global 36%) say they would prefer AI to automatically redeem points or apply discounts at checkout, while close to half (Singapore 44%, global 34%) indicate they would use an AI assistant to resolve customer service issues without their involvement. In addition, a meaningful share is open to AI taking the lead in higher‑stakes scenarios such as home security (Singapore 26%, global 30%) where an AI-powered system locks doors or contacts authorities automatically, or medical appointment scheduling (Singapore 20%, global 21%).

Adoption outpaces confidence

While use is accelerating, confidence in how AI is governed has not kept pace. Across all markets, people continue to express concern about security, control, accountability and authenticity, yet, these concerns are not slowing adoption. Instead, they are shaping expectations for how autonomy should be introduced.

The study finds that in Singapore:

• 76% (global 66%) worry about AI systems being hacked or breached
• Nearly seven in 10 are concerned about organizations either failing to hold themselves accountable for negative AI use (Singapore 71%, global 59%) or protect the privacy of their data (Singapore 70%, global 62%)
• 79% (global 73%) fear they will no longer be able to tell what is real or AI‑generated

Pioneer markets offer an early signal

While early adopters appear in every market, the rate of adoption is not uniform. The research identifies eight “pioneer” markets that are further along in their AI journey and for which use is broader, more frequent and deeply embedded in everyday life. These markets include India, the Chinese mainland, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Hong Kong SAR and South Korea, and collectively 94% of people in these markets report using AI, with nearly one in four (24%) of them having already used autonomous AI.

The remaining countries were split into either “transitional” markets, where overall adoption has been slower but use and interest is starting to grow, or “lagging” markets, which show greater hesitation, lower perceived relevance and more selective use. These markets were 12% and 17% respectively behind “pioneer” markets with regards to overall AI use and 11% and 13% respectively behind in agentic use.

Bhandari concludes:

“Singapore sits within the transitional phase of AI adoption. This is not due to a lack of capability but because expectations around trust, governance and value are significantly higher. While usage is growing, it is still more deliberate and use-case driven rather than deeply embedded in everyday decisions and business operations.

The next phase is not just about scaling AI but integrating it responsibly into the core of our society and economy. This means building confidence in autonomous systems, while ensuring governance keeps pace with real-time deployment. It could even require introducing targeted AI initiatives for seniors and rethinking how we teach and learn from an early age. At the same time, sovereign AI will be critical to safeguard national interests and reinforce citizen and enterprise trust in AI. For Singapore, the opportunity is to set the benchmark for trusted, responsible AI at scale.”

The full survey findings can be found here.

-ends-

About EY

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

All in to shape the future with confidence.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, a member of the global EY organization.

Methodology

The AI Sentiment Index Study is based on research created by the global EY organization to better understand the ways people around the world use AI and how they think about its future. To inform this, EY Studio+ conducted a survey of 18,152 people from 23 markets (Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Chinese mainland, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States).

To make sure the results of the survey were representative of the population in each market, a random stratified sampling approach was used with quotas on age (18 years and older), gender and location, based on local census data. To guarantee each country had an equal say, all results were statistically weighted. Because internet penetration is relatively low in markets such as India, the Chinese mainland, Brazil and Japan, any results from these markets should be viewed as representative of people who are internet enabled, rather than the general population.