This global study examines the public’s trust and attitudes towards AI use, and expectations of AI management and governance. Over 17,000 people were surveyed using nationally representative samples from 17 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. These countries are leaders in AI activity and readiness within each global region.

The report provides timely, comprehensive global insights into the public’s trust and acceptance of AI systems, including: who is trusted to develop, use, and govern AI, the perceived benefits and risks of AI use, community expectations of the development, regulation, and governance of AI, and how organisations can support trust in their AI use. It also sheds light on how people feel about the use of AI at work, public understanding and awareness of AI, the key drivers of trust in AI systems, and how trust and attitudes to AI have changed over time.

Collectively, the survey insights provide evidence-based pathways for strengthening the trustworthy and responsible use of AI systems, and the trusted adoption of AI in society. These insights are relevant for informing responsible AI strategy, practice and policy within business, government, and NGOs, as well as informing AI guidelines, standards and policy at the international and pan-governmental level.

A clear pattern across the data are the stark differences across countries in people’s trust, attitudes and reported use of AI: people in western countries are more wary of AI, and less convinced that the benefits outweigh the risks, than those in the emerging economies (i.e. Brazil, India, China, and South Africa). Younger generations, the university educated, and those in managerial roles are also more trusting and embracing of AI.