A research study on trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) released has found half (50%) of Australians use AI regularly, but only “36% are willing to trust it, with 78% concerned about negative outcomes.”
The Trust, attitudes and use of Artificial Intelligence: A global study 2025 led by Professor Nicole Gillespie, Chair of Trust at Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne and Dr Steve Lockey, Research Fellow at Melbourne Business School, in collaboration with KPMG, is said to be the “most comprehensive” global study into the “public’s trust, use and attitudes towards AI.”
The study has reportedly surveyed 48,340 people “across 47 countries (including Australia) between November 2024 and January 2025, using representative sampling.”
As well as being wary of AI, Australia ranks “among the lowest globally on acceptance, excitement and optimism about it, alongside New Zealand and the Netherlands.”
Only 30% of Australians believe the benefits of AI “outweigh the risks, the lowest ranking of any country.”
Australians also trail behind other countries in realising the “benefits of AI (55% vs 73% globally report experiencing benefits).”
Professor Gillespie explained:
“The public’s trust of AI technologies and their safe and secure use is central to acceptance and adoption. Yet our research reveals that 78% of Australians are concerned about a range of negative outcomes from the use of AI systems, and 37% have personally experienced or observed negative outcomes ranging from inaccuracy, misinformation and manipulation, deskilling, and loss of privacy or IP.”
Australians have amongst the lowest levels of AI training and education, with just “24% having undertaken AI-related training or education compared to 39% globally.”
Over 60% report low knowledge of AI (48% globally), and under half (48%) believe they have the skills to use AI tools “effectively (60% globally). Australians also rank lowest globally in their interest in learning more about AI.”
Professor Gillespie said:
“AI literacy consistently emerges in our research as a cross-cutting enabler: it is associated with greater use, trust, acceptance, and critical engagement with AI output, and more benefits from AI use, including better performance in the workplace. An important foundation to building trust and unlocking the benefits of AI is developing literacy through accessible training, workplace support, and public education.”
Two thirds (65%) of Australians report their employer “uses AI, and 49% of employees say they are intentionally using AI on a regular basis. Employees are reporting increased efficiency, effectiveness, access to information and innovation.”
However, the use of AI at work is also “creating complex risks for organisations.”
Almost half of employees (48%) admit to using AI in ways “that contravene company policies, including uploading sensitive company information into free public AI tools like ChatGPT.”
Many rely on AI output without “evaluating accuracy (57%) and are making mistakes in their work due to AI (59%).”
A lot of employees also admit to hiding their “use of AI at work and presenting AI-generated work as their own.”
Professor Gillespie remarked:
“Psychological safety around the use of AI in work is critical. People need to feel comfortable to openly share and experiment with how they are using AI in their work and learn from others for greater transparency and accountability.”
Some inappropriate use may stem from a “lack of clear organizational guidance.”
While generative AI tools are the most widely “used by Australian employees (71%), only 30% say their organisation has a policy on generative AI use.”
KPMG Australia Chief Digital Officer John Munnelly said the “combination of rapid adoption, low AI literacy and weak governance is creating a complex risk environment.”
“Many organisations are rapidly deploying AI without proper consideration being given to the structures needed to ensure transparency, accountability and ethical oversight – all of which are essential ingredients for trust.”
The research found strong public support for AI regulation “with 77% of Australians agreeing regulation is necessary.”
Australians expect international laws and regulation (76%), as well as oversight “by the government and existing regulators (80%) and co-regulation with industry (77%).”
However, only 30% believe “current laws, regulation and safeguards are adequate to make AI use safe.”
83% of Australians say they would be more willing to “trust AI systems when assurances are in place, such as adherence to international AI standards, responsible AI governance practices, and monitoring system accuracy.”
Professor Gillespie shared:
“The research reveals a tension where people are experiencing benefits but also potentially negative impacts from AI. This is fuelling a public mandate for stronger regulation and governance and a growing need for reassurance that AI systems are being used in a safe, secure and responsible way.”
Mr Munnelly added:
“There is a striking opportunity for industry and government to foster trust in AI by building on the existing Voluntary AI Safety Standards and ensuring Australian safeguards expand in line with emerging international laws and regulations. Organisations also need to invest in the training and development of their people. At KPMG Australia we invested early in our own governance, becoming the first organisation in the world to obtain ISO42001 (AI) certification by BSI, achieving its standards designed to empower safe management of AI and build trust to enable its secure and responsible use.”
About this report
The University of Melbourne research team, led by Professor Nicole Gillespie and Dr Steve Lockey, independently “designed and conducted the survey, data collection, analysis, and reporting of this research.”
This study is the fourth in a research program “examining public trust in AI.”
The first focused on “Australians’ trust in AI in 2020, the second expanded to study trust in five countries in 2021, and the third surveyed people in 17 countries in 2022.”
This research was supported by “the Chair in Trust research partnership between the University of Melbourne and KPMG Australia, with funding from KPMG International, KPMG Australia, and the University of Melbourne.”