Emerging economies are leading the charge when it comes to trusting artificial intelligence (AI), according to a landmark global survey that highlights a widening trust gap between developing and mature markets. The study, which canvassed more than 48,000 respondents across 47 countries, found that 60 percent of individuals in emerging markets are willing to place their faith in AI systems—compared with just 40 percent in advanced economies. This enthusiasm is reflected not only in higher adoption rates but also in more optimistic views of AI’s potential to drive economic and social progress.

The survey, conducted by the University of Melbourne in partnership with professional-services firm KPMG, reveals that two-thirds of all respondents now use AI regularly, and an overwhelming 83 percent believe it will yield significant benefits. Yet global trust remains a challenge: 58 percent of participants still view AI as “untrustworthy” in some applications. This ambivalence has grown since the advent of generative AI tools like ChatGPT in late 2022, underscoring the urgency for businesses and governments to address transparency, accountability, and ethics as AI becomes more pervasive.

Trust and Adoption Diverge

In emerging economies—such as India, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Brazil—three out of five people say they trust AI systems, while advanced markets like the United States, Germany and Japan register trust levels closer to two in five. Experts attribute this divergence to the tangible benefits AI delivers in developing nations. “In markets where infrastructure gaps are widest, AI-powered solutions can leapfrog traditional barriers,” explains Professor Nicole Gillespie, chair of trust at Melbourne Business School. “From mobile-based financial services in Africa to agricultural yield forecasting in Southeast Asia, the value proposition is clear.”

AI literacy and training also skew heavily toward emerging markets. Sixty-four percent of respondents in developing economies report at least moderate familiarity with AI concepts, versus just 46 percent in advanced countries. Similarly, half of survey participants in emerging markets have received some form of AI training—either through work-sponsored programs or online courses—compared to only 32 percent of their counterparts in mature economies. “Education and upskilling initiatives have been critical in building confidence,” notes Rajiv Menon, global head of AI strategy at KPMG. “When people understand how AI arrives at decisions, they are far more comfortable integrating it into daily life.”

Beyond trust, emerging-market respondents express stronger optimism about AI’s long-term impact. Eighty-two percent believe AI will improve job prospects or create new roles in the coming years, while just 65 percent of those in advanced economies share that view. In countries with booming tech sectors—like India and Vietnam—this confidence is bolstered by government-backed AI strategies, tax incentives for AI startups and public-private partnerships focused on intelligent infrastructure and smart-city projects.

“In India, the national AI framework aims to harness technology for healthcare diagnostics, supply-chain efficiency and educational access,” says Anjali Rao, director of the Indian Council for AI Research. “Citizens see these initiatives translating into concrete improvements, which naturally elevates their trust.” Similar initiatives in Latin America—where AI-driven fintech platforms are expanding financial inclusion—reinforce the perception that AI can be a powerful engine of growth, rather than an existential threat.

Use Cases Reflect Local Priorities

Survey data highlight distinct patterns in AI use across regions. In emerging economies, AI applications in agriculture and financial services rank among the most trusted, with farmers leveraging predictive analytics to optimize planting cycles and small-business owners using chatbots for customer engagement. In contrast, advanced economies show higher trust in AI for healthcare diagnostics and environmental monitoring, but lower acceptance in human-resources management and judicial applications.

For example, 72 percent of respondents in Nigeria said they would trust AI-powered crop-monitoring systems, compared with only 45 percent of U.S. farmers. Meanwhile, trust in AI-driven medical imaging reached 68 percent in Germany but just 54 percent in Indonesia. These regional nuances underscore the importance of culturally and economically relevant AI deployments: “Trust is not a one-size-fits-all metric,” observes Dr. Li Wei, co-author of the survey and senior fellow at the University of Melbourne. “It grows where technology solves pressing local problems in a transparent, accountable manner.”

Despite high faith in AI’s promise, emerging markets share advanced economies’ concerns over ethical challenges. On average, 84 percent of all respondents rank cybersecurity as the top risk, followed by data privacy and potential job displacement. Yet while advanced nations focus on developing stringent AI regulations and oversight bodies, many developing countries are still crafting foundational policies. In response, international bodies and multilateral agencies are stepping in to offer frameworks that emphasize responsible AI, capacity building and cross-border collaboration.

“As we bridge the digital divide, it’s vital that emerging economies establish robust governance models from the outset,” argues Sofia Alvarez, AI policy lead at the World Economic Forum. “The global community must work together to ensure AI benefits are equitably shared and that safeguards evolve alongside innovation.” Countries such as Kenya and Chile have already launched national AI ethics councils, while others, including Indonesia and South Africa, are drafting regulatory sandboxes to test AI applications under controlled conditions.

Corporate and Government Action Plans

In the corporate world, companies with significant operations in emerging markets are moving quickly to adapt. Multinational banks are deploying AI-powered fraud detection in India and the Middle East, while telecommunications firms in Africa are rolling out intelligent network-management tools to improve connectivity. These efforts are often accompanied by local training programs that upskill employees and foster greater public trust. For instance, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia recently hosted a series of workshops teaching sellers how to use AI-driven pricing algorithms—efforts that saw user trust scores climb by 20 percentage points over six months.

Governments, too, are leveraging survey insights to refine national AI strategies. In Mexico, policymakers have adjusted funding priorities to support AI research in water management and disaster response, areas identified by citizens as high value. In Egypt, the central bank is exploring AI-based credit-scoring models to expand lending to small businesses, capitalizing on the populace’s demonstrated willingness to trust fintech innovations.

While emerging markets pull ahead in trust metrics, advanced economies face their own hurdles. The survey indicates that disillusionment over data breaches and high-profile algorithmic failures has eroded confidence, particularly in sectors like human resources and criminal justice, where AI biases have led to public backlash. Only 35 percent of respondents in the U.S. and Europe trust AI-driven hiring systems, compared to 58 percent in India and 62 percent in Brazil.

In response, corporations in mature markets are ramping up transparency initiatives—publishing algorithmic impact assessments, opening data for external audits and forming ethics review boards. Major tech firms headquartered in Silicon Valley and London have begun collaborating with universities and non-profits to develop open-source tools for bias detection and performance validation. Still, many observers argue that rebuilding trust will require not just technical fixes but also broader cultural shifts toward inclusive innovation.

The Road Ahead for Global AI Trust

As AI cements its role across industries and societies, the survey’s findings highlight a pivotal moment: emerging economies are seizing the reins, demonstrating that trust and adoption can flourish where clear benefits meet responsible deployment. For advanced nations, the lesson may be to refocus on user-centric design, ethical governance and targeted education to regain public confidence.

Global experts stress that the long-term success of AI depends on bridging the trust divide. “If emerging markets can showcase how AI drives tangible improvements in quality of life, they will set the standard for responsible AI adoption worldwide,” concludes Professor Gillespie. “The challenge for advanced economies is to translate their technological prowess into outcomes that resonate with everyday citizens.”

With trust levels and usage patterns diverging sharply along developmental lines, the coming year will test whether policymakers, business leaders and technologists can unite behind a common goal: ensuring that AI’s transformative potential uplifts all societies, from burgeoning tech hubs in Asia and Africa to established innovation centers in North America and Europe.

(Adapted from KPMG.com)