A new survey by Milieu Insight has found that artificial intelligence is now a regular part of life for most people in Singapore, although concerns about accuracy and trust remain when it comes to sensitive areas such as finance and mental health.
The research, conducted online between 16 and 24 June with 1,000 respondents aged 16 and above, revealed that 80% of Singaporeans use AI tools for personal purposes. Younger people are leading the way, with 40% of those aged 16 to 24 reporting regular use. Half of this group said they relied on AI for creative help such as writing support, generating art ideas or creating images.
Despite widespread adoption, engagement is generally light. Across all age groups, 87% of users said they spend less than 30 minutes a day with AI tools. Common uses include searching for information, planning activities and experimenting with creative tasks.
Limits on trust for high-stakes advice
While AI is popular for everyday tasks, the study found hesitation when it comes to matters requiring professional judgment. Only 16% of respondents said they used AI for financial advice, and just 14% turned to it for mental health support or therapy-like conversations.
The findings highlight a distinction between using AI as a convenient tool and trusting it as a replacement for human expertise. Roughly one in three respondents admitted to partially replacing a professional service with AI. However, concerns remain about incorrect or misleading information, especially among younger users, with 61% worried about misinformation and 54% concerned about becoming too dependent on AI.
Older Singaporeans expressed different reservations. Among those aged 55 and above, 51% highlighted the risk of losing the human touch in important interactions.
Public attitudes mirror national strategy
The survey results also align with broader national discussions on the role of AI in Singapore. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in his National Day Rally 2025 speech, stressed that while AI will play an important role in the country’s future, Singaporeans themselves will remain central to economic growth and resilience.
Milieu Insight’s findings suggest that while AI is now firmly embedded in everyday routines, trust issues continue to shape how far people are willing to go with the technology in critical areas of life. The gap between casual use and reliance for serious advice underscores the need for both stronger safeguards and clearer public understanding of AI’s capabilities and limits.
