Confronting the AI Sentiment Gap
Earlier this month, I attended the Technology for Social Justice Conference in Melbourne. One of the standout sessions was from Katherine Boiciuc, EY’s Regional Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, who shared the findings from EY’s 2025 AI Sentiment Index. The report compares attitudes toward AI across New Zealand, Australia, and the world, and it prompted some reflection on where we sit—and what that means for those of us in the tech community.
A Hesitant Embrace of AI
According to the research, just 28% of New Zealanders believe the benefits of AI outweigh its risks—compared to 37% in Australia and 51% globally. That puts us at the bottom of the surveyed countries. While it’s fair to be cautious, this level of hesitation could hold us back from thoughtfully engaging with AI in ways that benefit our economy, society, and day-to-day lives.
Trust and Transparency Concerns
Unsurprisingly, trust emerged as a major issue. Around 73% of New Zealanders are concerned about how AI handles their personal data, matching Australia’s 74% and exceeding the global average of 63%. When asked who they trust most to use AI responsibly, New Zealanders placed the highest trust in universities and healthcare providers—suggesting confidence in public-good focused sectors.
On the flip side, social media companies, advertising firms, and even government agencies were among the least trusted. This shows that trust is shaped not just by commercialisation concerns, but also by perceptions of power, accountability, and past behaviour—regardless of whether the organisation is public or private.
There Is Good News
Despite the hesitations, there are some encouraging signs. New Zealanders are more likely than Australians to believe that AI can positively impact the environment (50% vs. 42%) and are more comfortable with AI being used to assist with healthcare decisions. While we’re cautious overall, these results suggest that if AI is applied with clear public value, people are open to it. That’s a critical insight for those designing solutions for sectors like climate resilience, conservation, and public health.
A Call to Action (Despite the Fatigue)
So, how do we bridge the sentiment gap? How do we bring industry, government, and communities into closer dialogue with the research and development community?
One of the biggest hurdles is that people are tired of hearing about AI. Many are experiencing a kind of AI fatigue—overwhelmed by click-bait headlines, overhyped promises, and fears of a robotic future. This makes it harder to have meaningful conversations about what AI actually is, how it works, and what it could do to improve our lives.
In light of that, our actions need to shift. Rather than adding to the noise, we should focus on quiet, trusted, community-led education. We need to create space for practical, grounded discussions—at workplaces, schools, marae, libraries. Support trusted intermediaries like educators, librarians, and community leaders to have the conversation. And we must design with trust at the centre—building tools that are explainable, safe, and accountable from the start.
AI isn’t going anywhere. But neither is our responsibility to help shape its role in society—based not on hype or fear, but on collective values and informed choice.
