Distilling Trust in the AI Age: Global Attitudes and AI Trends 2025

Hey AI Brew Lab community!

We've been exploring the fascinating world of AI, and just like distilling the perfect cup, understanding and trusting AI takes practice, knowledge, and the right ingredients. Recently, I stumbled upon a hefty report – think of it as a detailed coffee growers' almanac – titled "Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025" by the University of Melbourne and KPMG. It's packed with insights from over 48,000 people across 47 countries. Let’s dive into what this study distills about how people worldwide view and interact with AI in the context of AI Trends 2025.

☕️ The Daily Grind: How We Use and Understand AI

Just like many of us start our day with a coffee ritual, AI has become firmly part of everyday life and work. Two-thirds of people (66%) now intentionally use AI regularly. Among them, students lead the pack, with 83% incorporating AI into their studies. Most often, they’re using general-purpose tools like ChatGPT—part of the current wave of emerging AI applications across sectors.

Yet, AI literacy remains a challenge. Only 39% report any formal AI education. It’s like using a complex espresso machine without knowing what each button does. Nearly half (48%) feel unsure about when or how AI is used, even in platforms like social media, facial recognition, or virtual assistants. That’s why building better understanding of AI concepts like LLMs, cognitive AI, or supervised learning is so essential.

Encouragingly, 83% of people worldwide express a desire to learn more about AI. This rising curiosity is strongest in emerging economies and reflects growing interest in meaningful AI literacy.

⚖️ Tasting the Distillate: Benefits and Risks

The benefits? People are noticing time savings, improved efficiency, and precision thanks to AI. These are powerful motivators, as outlined in the motivational pathway of AI acceptance. However, AI News also highlights growing caution: cybersecurity risks, misinformation, and job displacement are among the top fears. Especially in emerging economies, people report direct job losses caused by AI systems.

Despite these concerns, globally no country has more than 50% of its population believing the risks outweigh the benefits. Still, trust in AI systems has declined—from 63% in 2022 to 56% in 2024. Exposure seems to be revealing flaws in the brew.

🔧 Quality Control and the Secret Recipe: Governance and Trust

People want more than promises. They want institutional safeguards, clear regulations, and trusted developers. Just as we trust our favorite café for consistent quality, the public is putting more trust in universities, healthcare institutions, and research centers over tech giants or governments.

Fake news and AI-generated misinformation are a major global concern. People overwhelmingly support stronger fact-checking policies and content detection tools—key to maintaining confidence in digital spaces.

The study identifies four main trust pathways:

1. Knowledge Pathway – Boosting AI literacy and user capability.

2. Motivational Pathway – Experiencing benefits firsthand.

3. Uncertainty Pathway – Addressing risks and transparency.

4. Institutional Pathway – Establishing robust governance and building confidence in organizations.

Among these, the institutional and motivational pathways matter most for trust and adoption. In other words, experiencing AI’s benefits and trusting who’s behind the system are the strongest ingredients for a responsible AI future.

🌐 Curious to learn more?
Check out our full article here and dive into other related reads:

• How AI is transforming small businesses

• The role of AI in the oil and gas industry

• AI’s impact on agriculture and food systems

Let’s keep brewing better conversations and deeper understanding at AI Brew Lab.