The American Trust in AI Paradox: Adoption Outpaces Governance

• 70% of U.S. workers are eager to realize AI's benefits with 61% already seeing positive impacts; yet 75% are still on alert for potential downsides, with only 41% willing to trust AI.
• Almost half (44%) of U.S. workers are using AI tools without proper authorization or in inappropriate ways; 46% also admit to uploading sensitive company information and intellectual property to public AI platforms.
• 43% of U.S. workers have low confidence in commercial and government to develop and use AI, with most putting their trust in universities & research institutions (76%) and healthcare providers (72 %) to develop and use AI in the best interests of the public; most want to see responsible use oversight by both the public and private sectors.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 29, 2025) - AI adoption in the U.S. workplace has outpaced most companies' ability to govern AI use according to the KPMG Trust, Attitudes and use of Artificial Intelligence: A global study 2025. Half of the U.S. workforce reported that they use AI tools at work without knowing whether it is allowed and more than four in ten (44%) are knowingly using it improperly at work. In addition, 58% of U.S. workers admit to relying on AI to complete work without properly evaluating the outcomes, and 53% claim to present AI-generated content as their own.

"This survey makes one thing clear: if you don't give people access to AI, they'll find their way into it anyway - often using it in ways that bypass policies, introduce errors, and blur accountability," said Steve Chase, Vice Chair of AI & Digital Innovation. "We're seeing this with clients too-especially those that have been slow to roll out tools or encourage responsible experimentation. If you haven't already, now's the time to invest in strong Trusted AI capabilities. And as agents become more and more a part of everyday workflows, getting this right only becomes more critical."

AI tools used without proper authorization or in inappropriate ways

Nearly half (44%) of employees are using AI tools at work in ways that their employers haven't authorized - with 46% uploading sensitive company information and intellectual property to public AI platforms, violating policies, and creating vulnerabilities for their organizations.

Furthermore, while two-thirds of U.S. workers are leveraging AI at work, many are not properly evaluating the outcomes. Sixty-four percent of employees admit to putting less effort into their work, knowing they can rely on AI, and 58% rely on AI output without thoroughly assessing the information. This reliance has led to 57% making mistakes in their work, and 53% avoid disclosing when they have used AI, often presenting AI-generated content as their own.

"Half of US workers are using AI tools without clear authorization, and many have admitted to using AI inappropriately," said Samantha Gloede, Trusted Enterprise Leader, KPMG LLP. "This highlights a significant gap in governance and raises serious concerns about transparency, ethical behavior, and the accuracy of AI-generated content. This should be a wake-up call for employers to provide comprehensive AI training to not only manage risks but also to maintain trust."

Trust is the bedrock of AI adoption

While 70% of U.S. workers are eager to leverage AI's benefits and 61% have already experienced positive impacts, 75% remain concerned about negative outcomes. Despite the majority (80%) believing AI has improved operational efficiency and innovative strategy - because it can process massive volumes of data at incomprehensible speeds and strengthen humans' capabilities, insights, and productivity - trust in AI remains low, with 43% having low confidence in both commercial and government entities to develop and use AI responsibly.

"Employees are asking for greater investments in AI training and the implementation of clear governance policies to bridge the gap between AI's potential and its responsible use, said Bryan McGowan, Trusted AI leader, KPMG LLP. "It's not enough for AI to simply work; it needs to be trustworthy. Building this strong foundation is an investment that will pay dividends in future productivity and growth."

AI governance is struggling to keep pace with the rapid integration of AI

Only 54% of U.S. Consumers believe their organizations have policies for responsible AI use, and another 25% think no such policies exist altogether. Similarly, 55% believe their organizations regularly monitor AI systems; with only three fifths (59%) of U.S. workers believe there are people within their organizations accountable for overseeing the use of AI.

"AI is advancing rapidly, yet governance in many organizations has not kept pace; organizations must incorporate comprehensive safeguards into AI systems and proactively prepare for foreseeable challenges and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks," said Gloede.

Perception from survey participants mirrors these concerns, with only 29% of U.S. consumers believing current regulations are sufficient for AI safety, and 72% saying more regulation is needed. Trust in AI could improve if laws and policies were in place, as 81% of U.S. consumers would be more willing to trust AI systems under such conditions. However, currently U.S. consumers have low confidence in commercial and government to develop and use AI, with most putting their trust in universities, research institutions, healthcare providers and big technology companies to develop and use AI in the best interests of the public.

There are also specific areas where U.S. consumers are most keen to see additional government oversight; notably 85% percent of U.S. consumers also express a strong desire for laws and policies to combat AI-generated misinformation.

"U.S. consumers see the value in guardrails and accountability," said McGowan. "The majority of our survey participants want regulation to combat AI-generated misinformation, and nearly all agreed that news and social media companies must ensure people can detect AI-generated content."

About the report

The Trust, attitudes and use of Artificial Intelligence: A global study 2025 was led by Professor Nicole Gillespie, Chair of Trust at Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne and Dr. Steve Lockey, Research Fellow at Melbourne Business School, in collaboration with KPMG, is the most comprehensive global study into the public's trust, use and attitudes towards AI. The study surveyed over 48,000 people across 47 countries between November 2024 and January 2025, including 1,019 people in the U.S.

Read more about the findings below

• More than half of U.S. workers credit AI with boosting creativity, efficiency, and innovation in their work, but a significant portion also report unexpected downsides, including increased compliance risks and more time spent on repetitive tasks.
  • 54% of U.S. survey participants report that the use of AI has increased creativity, efficiency, quality of work and innovation.
  • However, 36% say AI has increased compliance risks at work and 35% say AI has increased time spent on repetitive tasks

• Overall, the U.S. shows a more cautious and skeptical attitude towards AI compared to the global average, but similar to other advanced economies.
  • Trust in AI: Globally, 72% of people accept or approve of AI, while in the U.S., this figure is 54%. Similarly, only 41% of people in the U.S. are willing to trust AI, similar to other advanced economies.
  • Perception of Risks: U.S. consumers are more concerned about the risks of AI, with 45% believing the risks outweigh the benefits, compared to 32% globally.
  • Benefit of AI: U.S. consumers are experiencing the benefits of AI, but less so than other countries, 70% of U.S. consumers expect positive outcomes with the use of AI, Vs, 83% globally.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP is the U.S. member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 142 countries and territories and has more than 275,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

KPMG is widely recognized as an exceptional place to work and develop a career. Its people are united by a sense of purpose in their work, a strong commitment to increasing access to education and opportunity, advancing mental health, and supporting community vitality. Explore more at www.kpmg.com/us.

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