As AI tools increasingly become a staple in daily life for Singaporeans, a new survey by Milieu Insight shows a nuanced relationship between usage and trust. While 80 per cent of Singaporeans now use AI in some personal capacity, only a small fraction rely on it for more sensitive decisions such as financial planning (16 per cent) or mental health support (14 per cent).
The findings come at a time when AI is under growing public and governmental scrutiny spurred by incidents of deepfakes, rising scams, and a broader conversation around AI’s role in jobs and society.
The fieldwork, conducted in June with 1,000 respondents aged 16 and above, underscores how quickly AI has permeated Singaporean lifestyles. Younger people, particularly those aged 16 to 24, are leading the charge: 40 per cent report regular use, and half of that group say they employ AI for creative tasks such as writing or image generation.
Despite this enthusiasm, engagement remains casual. Eighty-seven per cent of users spend less than 30 minutes a day on AI tools, often for planning, creative prompts, or general information.
But the line between novelty and necessity is still firmly drawn.
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“The findings show a fascinating duality: AI has become a mainstream tool for everyday efficiency, but Singaporeans continue to draw clear lines when it comes to trust and human expertise,” said Juda Kanaprach, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Milieu Insight.
Concerns about misinformation and over-reliance are most prominent among younger users, with 61 per cent worried about fake or misleading content. Meanwhile, older users (55+) are more anxious about the diminishing “human touch” in an increasingly automated society.
The fear is not unwarranted. Though 94 per cent say they have never personally been targeted by deepfakes, more than a third of affected respondents reported negative impacts on their mental health. Yet, reporting remains low: most victims simply adjust privacy settings or confide in friends.
The low uptake of AI for financial and mental health services signals a hard boundary: Singaporeans may appreciate AI’s utility but stop short of replacing expert human judgment. This reflects broader societal and policy perspectives, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent National Day Rally emphasis that Singaporeans (and not AI) will remain at the center of the nation’s economic future.
Generational preferences also reveal an interesting paradox. While younger users are more willing to experiment with AI, they also express discomfort with it replacing genuine human interaction. Nearly 60 per cent of Gen Z respondents voiced unease about AI supplanting social or emotional exchanges.
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Singapore’s regulatory gaps are also telling. Only 38 per cent of survey respondents felt existing legal protections against deepfakes were effective despite broad consensus (94 per cent) that the issue is serious.
As Southeast Asia doubles down on AI integration across services, from banking to education, Singapore’s nuanced experience offers important lessons. High engagement does not equate to deep trust, particularly when dealing with sensitive domains.
Governments and tech developers in the region must therefore focus not only on innovation, but also on building robust safeguards and clear ethical frameworks.
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Image Credit: Julio Lopez on Unsplash
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