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.
KPMG has launched one of the most wide-ranging global studies into the public’s trust, use, and attitudes towards AI to date.
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.
The findings of the survey reveal that AI adoption is on the rise, but trust remains a critical challenge – reflecting a tension between the benefits and risks:
- The Artificial Intelligence age has arrived – 66% of people use AI regularly, and 83% believe the use of AI will result in a wide range of benefits.
- Yet trust remains a critical challenge: only 46% of people globally are willing to trust AI systems.
- There is a public mandate for national and international AI regulation with 70% believing regulation is needed.
- Many rely on AI output without evaluating accuracy (66%) and are making mistakes in their work due to AI (56%).
“In Romania, 62% of the people surveyed reported that they experienced misinformation or disinformation due to AI” notes Gabriel Mihai Tanase, Partner in KPMG in Romania’s Advisory department. ”This is a big number by any calculation and clearly shows that the technology supporting the AI is still in its infancy” he concludes.
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.
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.
“Boosting AI literacy by training people and promoting awareness on AI use is imperative. People are using AI technology without having the basic knowledge of what this is or how it operates” comments Gheorghe Vlad, Director and Head of Cybersecurity Services at KPMG in Romania. “Only 33% of the Romanians surveyed have had some sort of formal or informal training on AI or related fields”, he continues, “and 49% reported that they have made mistakes in their work due to the use of AI. We see a shared responsibility here: both organizations and individuals should ensure appropriate training on AI before starting to rely on the work (and results) generated by AI”, Vlad concludes.
KPMG in Romania is uniquely positioned to help organizations uncover these AI opportunities, to work through critical business challenges, enhance their cybersecurity protection, and empower and uplift their workforce to drive value from AI. .
If you would like to know more about this research, please go to the KPMG website for the full report.
