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Australians don’t trust AI but regulation could unlock mass adoption  

New national research finds trust, not fear, is holding AI back, with regulation emerging as the key to driving adoption. 

Sydney, 5 May 2026: Australians are ready to embrace artificial intelligence, but a lack of trust is holding adoption back, with new research showing targeted government regulation could unlock widespread use. 

Tech Policy Design Institute’s (TPDi) latest report, Earning Trust: Unlocking AI Adoption for Australians, reveals 85% of Australians support government regulation of AI, and 70% say they would embrace AI more if strong rules were in place – signalling that regulation is not a barrier to adoption and productivity, but the condition for it. 

At the same time, trust in AI remains critically low. Just 1% of Australians have complete trust in AI, while 44% say they have little to no trust it will be used responsibly, placing Australia among the lowest-ranked countries globally for AI trust. 

Together, the findings point to a clear conclusion. Australians are not resistant to AI, they are waiting for it to be governed properly. Having trust gives Australians a meaningful choice in adopting AI.  

Rather than slowing innovation, Australians see regulation as essential to enabling safe, confident use, particularly in high-impact areas like healthcare, education and law enforcement. 

Importantly, this is not a fear-driven response. The research shows that Australians who better understand AI and its risks are more likely to support regulation, reinforcing that trust (not hesitation) is the key barrier to broader adoption. 

They also favour a targeted, sector-by-sector approach to regulation, rather than a single overarching AI law, reflecting different expectations of risk and trust depending on how AI is used. 

Other key findings from the report reveal: 

• There’s appetite for AI: Nearly half (45%) of Australians are open to using AI but waiting for clear safeguards before doing so, and a further 40% have adopted AI but would be more comfortable if it was better governed. 
• Knowledge increases support for regulation: People with a general understanding of AI are 39% more likely to support regulation than those with low/no knowledge. 
• Standalone AI Act would not be sufficient to build Australians’ trust in AI: 49% of Australians prefer sector-specific regulation, or sector specific regulation and an overarching AI Act.  
• Regulation priorities are clear: Australians ranked privacy and control of personal data, jobs and workers’ rights, and misinformation as the top priorities for government action. 

“Australians aren’t pushing back on AI, they just want to trust that AI is being used responsibly. This research shows AI regulation isn’t red tape, it’s the foundation for trust and adoption. And, in turn, it’s adoption that will deliver on the productivity promises of AI,” said Johanna Weaver, TPDi Co-Founder and Executive Director.  

 “The message is clear. If we want Australians to embrace AI, government and industry need to earn social licence. We have a window right now to get this right. Done well, targeted AI regulation positions Australia to innovate fast, adopt AI with confidence, transform our economy, and deliver real benefits for Australians.” 

 About Tech Policy Design Institute   

The Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to technology policy. Founded in 2025, after three years of incubation at the Australian National University, TPDi is based in Canberra. We bring government, industry, civil society and academia together to shape technology for the benefit of humanity through research, education, public debate, and community building.  

About the research
The report is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 2,300 Australians, alongside focus groups exploring attitudes toward AI, trust and regulation.