Singapore ranks among the world’s highest adopters of AI tools for daily life tasks, yet fewer than one in five Singaporeans feel confident they can identify an AI-generated scam or deepfake — a readiness gap that a new study from TrendLife, the consumer unit of Trend Micro, says is leaving residents exposed at the moments of highest financial risk.

Singapore outpaces global averages on AI adoption

The Digital Life and AI Experiences study, which surveyed 10,350 consumers across nine markets including 526 Singaporeans, found that nearly 7 in 10 people in Singapore use AI tools during significant life events — well above the global average. Usage rates for specific tasks are particularly elevated: 56 per cent of Singaporeans use AI for writing emails or documents, against a global average of 33 per cent; 49 per cent use it for travel planning versus 22 per cent globally; and 40 per cent for online shopping against 30 per cent globally.

High awareness, low confidence in threat detection

Despite 92 per cent of respondents indicating awareness of the risks of sharing personal information with AI tools, only 20 per cent said they were very or extremely confident in identifying an AI-generated scam or deepfake. Just 27 per cent felt confident about responding to identity theft. The study connects this gap to Singapore’s recent experience of deepfake Zoom scams impersonating senior government officials, which resulted in losses of at least S$4.9 million.

“Our findings show that while many recognise the need to better protect themselves in an AI-driven digital world, they do not feel adequately prepared to do so,” said Ashley Millar, Consumer Education Director at TrendLife.

Demand for family-grade protection tools

The survey also captures appetite for stronger protection: 63 per cent of Singapore respondents said they would use tools that alert them if a family member is being targeted by cybercriminals, and 73 per cent expressed willingness to adopt AI-powered tools designed to help children engage with AI more safely. Big-ticket purchases, job searches, and business startups were ranked as the life events most perceived as vulnerable to scams and fraud.