Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025

AI has the immense potential to transform lives, boost industries and help tackle some of the most pressing global issues. Fully realizing this potential requires collaboration, a collective commitment to responsible innovation and appropriate regulation with education programs and skills development initiatives to help individuals better harness AI’s power.

Led by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with KPMG, Trust, attitudes and use of Artificial Intelligence: A global study 2025, surveyed more than 48,000 people across 47 countries to explore the impact AI is having on individuals and organizations. It is one of the most wide-ranging global studies into the public’s trust, use, and attitudes towards AI to date.

By acting decisively to address these areas, organizations can not only mitigate current risks but also drive sustainable innovation and growth.

Alongside the study, we’ve developed our perspective on the global study’s finding - The age of Intelligence – Empowering human-AI collaboration for a trusted future explores the implications for organizations and highlights how they can leverage these insights to harness the transformative power of AI.

The high-level AI adoption reflects the ease with which AI systems—particularly general-purpose generative AI tools—can be accessed and used by a diverse range of people and applied to a broad variety of tasks. This sets AI apart from many other advanced technologies that have greater barriers and constraints on access and use by individuals.

Robert Ptaszyzski

Head of Digital and Innovation

KPMG Middle East

Saudi Arabia is leading the way in AI use and trust, but calls for smarter regulations are growing

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Saudis have high levels of AI literacy and training

94% use AI for work, study or personally, and only 30% report limited knowledge of AI.

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Trust and acceptance of AI is high

62% of people in Saudi Arabia are willing to trust AI systems, and 84% accept or approve of AI.

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AI regulation

People in Saudi Arabia expect a comprehensive regulatory approach to AI, 60% think AI regulation is needed.

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Benefits are higher than risks

When asked about AI, 55% believe its benefits outweigh the risks, and only 21% believe the opposite.

This research, along with our perspective on the findings, offers a data-driven view of where leadership focus, strategic investment and workforce enablement are most urgently needed and how rising public expectations for strong AI regulation and governance need to be addressed.

People have more trust in the technical ability of AI systems to provide a helpful service but are more skeptical of its safety, security and impact on people. While most people use AI tools, many people have reservations about the trustworthiness of AI systems and their use in society.

Mazhar Hussain

Head of Digital Lighthouse

For organizations to realize the true potential of AI and achieve a competitive advantage, there are four key actions that leaders should prioritize:

Transformational leadership
Enhancing trust
Boosting AI literacy
Strengthening governance

By acting decisively to address these areas, organizations can not only mitigate current risks but also drive sustainable innovation and growth.
Alongside the study, we’ve developed our perspective on the global study’s finding - The age of Intelligence – Empowering human-AI collaboration for a trusted futureopens in a new tab explores the implications for organizations and highlights how they can leverage these insights to harness the transformative power of AI.

The age of Intelligence

Empowering human-AI collaboration for a trusted future. A perspective on Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025

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Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence

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Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025

Saudi Arabia insights:

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Country perspectives

About the survey

Data was collected in each country using representative research panels. Panel members were invited to complete the survey online, with data collected between November 2024 and mid-January 2025.

The University of Melbourne research team, led by Professor Nicole Gillespie and Dr Steve Lockey, led the design, conduct, data collection, analysis, and reporting of this research.

To cite this research and for full research findings and method details:

Gillespie, N., Lockey, S., Ward, T., Macdade, A., & Hassed, G. (2025). Trust, Attitudes and Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Global Study 2025. The University of Melbourne and KPMG. DOI 10.26188/28822919

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.