Singapore Workers Open to AI but Lag in Workplace Adoption: Salesforce
Source: Techgoondu
Just 6% of Singapore desk workers use AI daily despite ranking among the least sceptical globally, according to new research from Salesforce. Nearly a third of workers have experienced failed AI pilots producing generic outputs, pointing to a delivery problem rather than worker resistance.
Singapore desk workers are among the least sceptical about artificial intelligence globally, yet the city-state continues to rank near the bottom in daily workplace AI adoption, according to new research from software giant Salesforce.
The study, which surveyed over 1,500 desk workers across four continents, found that just 29% of Singapore respondents identify as AI sceptics — well below the global average of 37% and sharply lower than the 53% recorded in the United States, Britain and France. Despite this openness, only 6% of Singapore desk workers say AI is a key part of their daily work, roughly half the global average of 11%.
The gap between attitude and adoption appears to stem from failed experiments. Nearly a third of Singapore respondents — 31% — reported participating in unsuccessful AI pilots at work. Among them, 40% cited generic, irrelevant outputs as the primary reason for failure, the highest rate across all markets surveyed and well above the 30% global average. Another 38% pointed to a lack of trust in AI outputs, while 30% said the results lacked sufficient business context.
Salesforce identified a small cohort of over 500 workers globally who have successfully moved beyond pilots to integrate AI into daily workflows. The company's research suggests that successful adoption depends on three factors: role-specific training, AI embedded directly into existing tools, and strong data security guardrails. In Singapore, the findings suggest the barrier is not worker resistance but a delivery problem — businesses are introducing AI tools that are not sufficiently tailored to actual job functions.
Why it matters for Singapore: The disconnect between AI enthusiasm and actual usage represents a wake-up call for Singaporean businesses investing heavily in AI. With the government pushing ambitious adoption targets under the Smart Nation initiative and the National AI Strategy 2.0, enterprise leaders cannot assume that procuring AI tools will translate into productive use. Singapore's very low AI scepticism rate is an asset, but the data shows that trust is fragile — failed pilots erode confidence faster here than in any other market surveyed. As Paul Carvouni, Salesforce's ASEAN chief, put it: "Singapore workers are not standing in the way of AI — they are waiting for AI that works for them."