On World Environment Day, 71% Indians Say AI’s Societal Benefits Outweigh Environmental Costs: Ipsos AI Monitor 2026

On World Environment Day, a strong majority of Indians (71%) believe that the potential benefits of artificial intelligence for society far outweigh its environmental costs. This optimistic view is mirrored in parts of Asia, with 77% of Chinese and 69% of Thai respondents expressing similar sentiment. In contrast, Western markets display significantly lower agreement, particularly in Canada (26%), the Netherlands (30%), Germany (32%), France (33%), Great Britain (33%), and the United States (34%), reflecting a more cautious approach toward AI’s environmental trade-offs, according to the Ipsos AI Monitor 2026.

Interestingly, the survey highlights a strong momentum in artificial intelligence adoption in India, driven by high awareness, widespread usage and growing optimism. Urban Indians are not only familiar with AI but are actively integrating it into their daily lives, workplaces and decision-making. The findings also point to a nuanced trust landscape; while there is confidence in companies deploying AI, users remain more cautious about the reliability of AI-generated outputs, underscoring the importance of transparency and responsible use as adoption deepens.

Awareness and Everyday Impact

A vast majority of Urban Indians demonstrate a clear understanding of AI, with 82 per cent saying they understand what artificial intelligence is and 81 percent aware of products and services that use it. This awareness is translating into real impact, as 78 per cent say AI has already significantly changed their daily lives over the past three to five years. Looking ahead, this number rises to 84 per cent, indicating strong belief that AI will play an even bigger role in the near future.

Optimism Outpaces Concern

Optimism toward AI is a defining characteristic of the Indian market. Nearly 80 per cent believe that AI-driven products and services offer more benefits than drawbacks. While 63 per cent admit that AI makes them nervous, a higher 79 per cent say it makes them excited, signalling that enthusiasm clearly outweighs concern.

Trust and Demand for Transparency

Trust in AI systems and the companies deploying them is also notably high. About 74 per cent of Urban Indians trust companies using AI to protect their data, while 80 per cent trust AI systems not to discriminate or show bias. At the same time, Indians are clear about the need for responsible deployment, with 83 per cent saying it should be mandatory for companies to disclose when AI is being used in products and services.

AI in the Workplace

In the workplace, AI is already delivering measurable value. As many as 83 per cent 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 per cent saying they use AI tools even when they do not fully trust them and 63 per cent 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.

Future of Jobs and Economic Impact

The impact of AI on jobs is expected to be significant. Around 78 per cent believe AI will change how they do their jobs within the next five years, while 58 per cent think it could replace their role. Despite this, more than half remain optimistic about broader economic gains, with 65 percent believing AI will improve the national economy and 73 per cent saying it will help reduce the time it takes to complete tasks. Improvements are also expected in entertainment and health, with 73 per cent and 64 per cent respectively seeing positive outcomes.

AI Across Everyday Applications

Urban Indians also show a high level of comfort using AI across a wide range of applications, from financial advice and healthcare diagnostics to customer service, hiring processes and content creation. This widespread acceptance reflects how deeply AI is being woven into everyday life.

Commenting on the findings, 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.”

Technical Note

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.