Event: Earning Trust – unlocking adoption for Australians

“I want to begin by thanking Zoe and Johanna for the incredible work they do with the Tech Policy Design Institute. They have built, in a short time, a reputation for incredibly high-quality and impactful research on some of the most important questions in our economy and of our time.

This is detailed, challenging work in a new area of the economy where the government is always looking for partners to help us with expertise from the frontier — to make the right decisions in difficult circumstances, in fast-moving environments. So to have partners like Johanna and Zoe helping us think through these challenges is extremely welcome, and we’re grateful for the hard work you do and for the supporters who make TPDi possible.”

“This research comes at just the right time, and it has some really powerful messages in it. This research tells us that Australians want the benefits of AI. They don’t want to be left behind. They know that it’s going to be important for their careers, for their businesses, for their competitiveness. They want to adopt it — but they want to adopt it safely. They want to know that they can have trust in it.

And more importantly, this report makes the connection between adoption and trust… the report says very clearly that by making AI safe, by providing trust, we will enhance adoption — enhanced acceptance — and drive those benefits further. I think that’s an incredibly important message, and one certainly that the government has put at the heart of our approach to making sure that Australia benefits from AI.”

The event launched TPDi’s new report, Earning Trust: Unlocking AI Adoption for Australians, bringing together leaders from government, industry, civil society and the research sector to explore one of the central challenges shaping Australia’s AI future: public trust.

Assistant Minister Dr Andrew Charlton MP delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the role of trust, safeguards and public confidence in Australia’s AI future, and welcoming the contribution of TPDi’s new report, Earning Trust: Unlocking AI Adoption for Australians, to the national conversation.

The report found Australians are not rejecting AI outright, but are looking for stronger safeguards, clearer accountability and greater confidence before embracing broader adoption. Key findings included that 85% of Australians support government AI regulation, 70% would use AI more if strong safeguards were in place, and only 1% of Australians fully trust AI will be used responsibly.

The findings were bought to life with a panel featuring speakers role-playing the four Australian AI personas identified in TPDi’s research. The format was designed to explore how different Australians are approaching AI adoption, trust and regulation. Thanks to our panellists for the good humour and expertise that they bought to the discussion.

• Jess Wilson, CEO, Good Things Australia – 
representing Australia’s “Regulation-Enabled Adopters” (45%).
• Lailei Huang, Founder & Chair, Western Sydney Tech Innovators
- representing Australia’s “Tech Champions” (28%).
• Peter Lewis, host of Burning Platforms and What’s Your Poison?
- representing Australia’s “Entrenched Sceptics” (15%).
• George Trigenis, TPDi Youth Ambassador
- representing Australia’s “Self-Assured Adopters” (12%).

Read the Research Spotlight 

⬇️ Earning Trust: unlocking Australia’s AI adoption

In the media

▶️ Australians’ deep distrust of AI derails push for $600bn economic boost (The Australian)

▶️ ‘Clear mandate’ for AI regulations as Aussies back guardrails (InnovationAus)

➡️ Australians back AI rules as trust gap remains wide (ITNews)