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A Milieu Insight survey shows 80% of people surveyed in Singapore now use AI tools, yet only 16% seek financial advice and 14% turn to it for mental health support.
AI has quickly become part of everyday life in Singapore, but most people remain cautious about using it for more serious decisions, according to a new survey by market research company Milieu Insight.
The study, conducted online with 1,000 Singaporeans aged 16 and above between 16 and 24 June, found that 8 in 10 people are already using AI tools for personal purposes. Younger Singaporeans are at the forefront, with 40% of those aged 16 to 24 reporting regular use. Within this group, half said they turn to AI for creative tasks such as writing, art ideas, or image generation.
Despite this growth, AI use is still relatively light. Across all ages, 87% of respondents said they spend less than 30 minutes a day with these tools, typically for quick searches, planning trips, or sparking creative ideas.
When it comes to high-stakes matters, however, trust in AI is limited. Only 16% of respondents said they rely on it for financial advice, and just 14% use it for mental health support or therapy-like conversations. While some have partially replaced professional services with AI, concerns remain. Younger people worry more about misinformation and over-reliance, while older respondents highlight the loss of human touch.
Generational differences are also evident in perceptions of AI. More than a third of younger respondents felt AI understands their personal needs and preferences. In contrast, most older respondents said it only sometimes does. Interestingly, younger people were also uneasy about the idea of AI replacing human interaction, showing that even digital natives want clear boundaries.
The survey also raised concerns about deepfakes. While 94% said they had never been directly targeted, younger respondents reported encountering suspected deepfakes more frequently, particularly on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Among those affected, more than a third said it had negatively impacted their mental health, yet few reported these cases formally.
Although most respondents saw deepfakes as a serious issue, only 38% felt current legal protections were effective. This points to a gap between public concern and existing safeguards.
Commenting on the findings, Juda Kanaprach, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Milieu Insight, noted: "As AI continues to evolve, adoption must be paired with safeguards especially around misinformation and deepfakes, where confidence in protections lags behind the seriousness of the issue."
Overall, the survey highlights a duality where AI is welcomed for efficiency in daily life, but Singaporeans continue to rely on people for trust and expertise.
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