Singapore – Singaporeans are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support significant life events and everyday activities, but many remain uncertain about their ability to identify AI-generated scams and deepfakes, according to a new study by TrendLife, the consumer business unit of Trend Micro.
The “Digital Life and AI Experiences” study surveyed more than 10,000 consumers across nine markets, including over 500 respondents in Singapore. The research examined how consumers use AI during major life events, their perceptions of digital risks, and their preparedness to respond to AI-enabled scams and fraud.
The findings showed that nearly seven in ten Singapore respondents use AI tools to navigate important life events and experiences. However, fewer than one in five respondents said they were highly confident in their ability to identify AI-generated scams and deepfakes.
Ashley Millar, Consumer Education Director at TrendLife, said, “AI is becoming more deeply embedded in the lives of individuals and families in Singapore, transforming how they live, work and play. 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. At TrendLife, we believe that safety must be ingrained in every AI interaction and we continue to build on our cybersecurity expertise and innovation to help people navigate evolving digital risks and confidently embrace the opportunities that AI brings.”
The study found that Singapore respondents reported higher AI adoption rates than the global averages across several common activities. Around 56% said they use AI tools to help write emails or documents, compared to a global average of 33%. Nearly half (49%) use AI for travel planning, more than double the global average of 22%, while 40% use AI tools for online shopping, compared to a global average of 30%.
At the same time, respondents identified major life events as periods of heightened exposure to cybercrime. Big-ticket purchases and investments, such as property and vehicles, were viewed as among the situations most vulnerable to scams, fraud, and identity theft. Job searches and starting a business were also perceived as high-risk activities.
The research highlighted a high level of awareness regarding digital privacy and security risks. More than half of respondents (55%) said they share sensitive personal information online during significant life events, including identification numbers, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Nearly all respondents (98%) expressed concern about doing so.
In addition, 92% said they were aware of the risks associated with sharing personal information with AI tools.
Respondents also reported relatively strong online security habits compared with global averages. Around 66% said they enable two-factor authentication, compared with a global average of 49%. Some 57% said they only access secure URLs, versus a global average of 40%, while 53% regularly monitor their bank accounts for suspicious activity, compared with 44% globally.
Despite this awareness and adoption of basic security measures, confidence in responding to AI-related threats remained limited. Only 20% of Singapore respondents said they were very or extremely confident in their ability to identify an AI-generated scam or deepfake. Meanwhile, 27% said they were very or extremely confident that they would know how to respond if they became victims of identity theft.
The study also found growing demand for additional digital protection tools. About 63% of respondents said they would use tools that could alert them if a family member was being targeted by cybercriminals. Meanwhile, 73% indicated they would be willing to adopt AI-powered tools designed to help children use AI more safely, positively, and productively.
TrendLife said that as AI adoption continues to grow, families can strengthen their protection against scams by establishing verification processes, such as using family code words for urgent financial requests, calling back through trusted channels to verify communications, and limiting the visibility of sensitive personal information, photos, voice samples, and behavioural patterns on social media.
