According to the Ipsos AI Monitor 2026, released on World Environment Day, a majority of respondents in India (71%) believe that the potential societal benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh its environmental costs.
Similar views were recorded in parts of Asia, with 77% of respondents in China and 69% in Thailand expressing the same sentiment.
In contrast, respondents in several Western markets showed greater caution regarding AI’s environmental trade-offs, with agreement levels at 26% in Canada, 30% in Netherlands, 32% in Germany, 33% in France, 33% in United Kingdom and 34% in United States. The findings highlight differing global perspectives on balancing AI innovation with environmental sustainability.
The survey highlights a momentum in artificial intelligence adoption in India, driven by awareness, widespread usage and growing optimism. Urban Indians are familiar with AI and are actively integrating it into their daily lives, workplaces and decision-making.
The findings also point to a trust landscape; while there is confidence in companies deploying AI, users remain cautious about the reliability of AI-generated outputs, underscoring the importance of transparency and responsible use as adoption deepens.
A majority of Urban Indians demonstrate an understanding of AI, with 82% saying they understand what artificial intelligence is and 81% aware of products and services that use it.
This awareness is translating into real impact, as 78% say AI has already significantly changed their daily lives over the past three to five years. Looking ahead, this number rises to 84%, indicating belief that AI will play an even bigger role in the near future.
Optimism toward AI is a characteristic of the Indian market. Nearly 80% believe that AI-driven products and services offer more benefits than drawbacks. While 63% admit that AI makes them nervous, a higher 79% say it makes them excited, signalling that enthusiasm outweighs concern.
Trust in AI systems and the companies deploying them is also notably high. About 74% of Urban Indians trust companies using AI to protect their data, while 80% trust AI systems not to discriminate or show bias.
At the same time, Indians are clear about the need for responsible deployment, with 83% saying it should be mandatory for companies to disclose when AI is being used in products and services.
In the workplace, AI is already delivering measurable value. As many as 83% of Indians say AI tools have saved them time in the past year. However, this growing reliance coexists with a degree of caution, with 67% saying they use AI tools even when they do not fully trust them and 63% admitting they do not always verify AI outputs. This highlights a gap between usage and trust that is likely to shape future expectations from AI systems.
The impact of AI on jobs is expected to be significant. Around 78% believe AI will change how they do their jobs within the next five years, while 58% think it could replace their role.
Despite this, more than half remain optimistic about broader economic gains, with 65% believing AI will improve the national economy and 73% saying it will help reduce the time it takes to complete tasks. Improvements are also expected in entertainment and health, with 73% and 64% respectively seeing positive outcomes.
Urban Indians also show a level of comfort using AI across a range of applications, from financial advice and healthcare diagnostics to customer service, hiring processes and content creation. This widespread acceptance reflects how AI is being woven into everyday life. These views are of higher socio economic class in India and providing a more urban centric view.
These are the results of a 32-country survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform, between Friday, March 20, and Friday, April 3, 2026.
For this survey, Ipsos interviewed a total of 23,532 adults aged 18 years and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries.
The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, mainland China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and the U.S., and 500 individuals each in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, and Türkiye.
Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India said, “India stands at a defining moment in its AI journey. What we are seeing is not just adoption but confidence, curiosity and a willingness to engage with AI in meaningful ways. The strong levels of trust combined with clear expectations around transparency show that Indian consumers are both optimistic and discerning.
“This aligns closely with the vision outlined at the Government’s India AI Impact Summit, which emphasized democratising AI and inclusive growth, responsible innovation and global leadership in Artificial Intelligence. As AI becomes central to how we live and work, the opportunity for India is not just to adopt technology but to shape how it is built, trusted and governed at scale. These views are of higher socio economic class in India and providing a more urban centric view,” Ramalingam said.
