Are Singaporeans Ready for AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative force reshaping our lives. Globally, businesses and consumers are using AI-powered applications daily, in ways that were unprecedented and unimaginable a decade ago. In Singapore, the government is leading the charge with an updated National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0, a comprehensive plan to integrate AI across various sectors.

Are Singaporeans ready to embrace a future with AI permeating our daily lives? To find out, RySense surveyed 1050 respondents from our online panel, HappyDot.sg, in August 2024.

Understanding of AI is still limited

The understanding of AI among Singaporeans has yet to keep pace with its rapid introduction to our daily lives. 2 in 3 (or 67%) Singaporeans say they only have novice or basic levels of proficiency in AI. The remaining 33% report having intermediate or proficient level of knowledge, indicating a good or deep understanding of AI. As a comparison, 60% of Singaporeans have intermediate or proficient understanding of basic computer functions (Figure 1), a proportion nearly double the proficiency level observed for AI.

Singaporeans are receptive to AI, seeing it as an opportunity to improve their quality of life

6 in 10 Singaporeans are receptive to AI in improving their quality of life. The remaining Singaporeans are ambivalent (3 in 10) or less forthcoming (1 in 10) (Figure 2).

8 in 10 would like some form of AI assistance in their lives (Figure 3). Contrary to the belief that AI is used mostly for work, a sizeable 42% would want AI to support them in both work and personal life – a view held more among males than females (45% vs 39%).

A smaller but notable segment wants AI to feature in just one part of their lives, allowing them to concentrate on either personal (19%) or work pursuits (12%). With women actively participating in the workforce while balancing roles at home, more women than men express a desire for AI to manage household tasks, allowing them to better focus on their careers (15% vs 9%).

Regardless of the underlying motivations for such gender differences, these observations underscore how AI can be harnessed to address the universal need for managing life’s complexities and improving efficiency in various areas.

Concerns over the use of AI

Despite the openness to adopting AI, Singaporeans expressed several concerns.
45% are worried about AI hallucination (inaccurate or unreliable AI output) and data privacy and security issues (uncertain about how these AI platforms maintain the data shared). Another 3 in 10 are unsure about how to use AI, further attesting to the importance of raising awareness and familiarity with this technology (Figure 4).

Preparing Singaporeans for a future with AI

What does this mean for Singapore, and where do we go from here? Singaporeans are generally receptive to using AI, with 6 in 10 acknowledging its potential to improve their quality of life. This openness is likely driven by Singaporeans’ pragmatic culture, through which we view new technologies and opportunities as avenues to enhance both work and personal lives.

The next step is transforming openness into adoption. This could include increasing exposure to AI, demonstrating its relevance across different roles and showing how it can be both easy to use and beneficial in everyday life. At the same time, concerns such as data privacy, quality of AI output and the risk of scams must be managed through sound governance frameworks that safeguard against AI’s potential harms.

As more people experience the value of AI in their daily lives, momentum for broader adoption will grow, paving the way for a more AI-enabled society.

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Caregiving in Singapore – Challenges and the Way Forward

With shrinking family sizes and a population that is living longer, more Singaporeans will take on caregiving roles. As more Singaporeans come to know a caregiver, rely on one, or become one themselves, are we prepared for the road ahead? To find out more on the caregiving landscape, RySense conducted two polls in 2024 with respondents from our online panel, HappyDot.sg.

Amongst the 2,000 respondents polled, 34% reported being a primary caregiver—someone who takes primary responsibility for a person unable to fully care for themselves. This can mean providing care directly or ensuring provision of care, and making care and treatment decisions. Dependants under care include children, teenagers, adults and seniors.

Caregivers’ commitment driven by responsibility and affection

Caregivers are primarily driven by intrinsic motivations, with 86% reporting a sense of responsibility or duty and 79% citing love and affection for the individual as key reasons for providing care (Figure 1). 3 in 10 also mention feelings of reciprocity or a desire to give back, reflecting the enduring influence of filial piety within society.

However, not all caregiving is voluntary. For some, pragmatic considerations—such as wanting to avoid future regrets (57%) or lacking alternative options (39%)—play a significant role.

Daily demands draining the mind and body
The fact that intrinsic motivations dominate does not mean caregiving is less strenuous. A closer look at caregivers’ daily lives reveals how demanding their role can be. About 1 in 3 describe their daily tasks as very or extremely mentally demanding, while another half find their tasks moderately challenging (Figure 2).

For most caregivers, the daily grind takes a significant toll: many reported feeling emotionally (60%) or physically drained (53%) and struggled to find time for themselves (58%) (Figure 3).

Caregiving’s impact on well-being and outlook on life
When asked about their overall quality of life, 57% of caregivers reported good or very good well-being—significantly lower than the 63% reported by non-caregivers (Figure 4). Caregivers also have a less positive outlook on life: just 55% are happy with the things they can look forward to, compared to 62% of non-caregivers. This suggests that even as caregivers find meaning in their role, the demands and pressures associated with caregiving can take a measurable toll on their overall well-being and outlook on life.

Caregivers’ commitment driven by responsibility and affection

However, not all caregiving is voluntary. For some, pragmatic considerations—such as wanting to avoid future regrets (57%) or lacking alternative options (39%)—play a significant role.

For most caregivers, the daily grind takes a significant toll: many reported feeling emotionally (60%) or physically drained (53%) and struggled to find time for themselves (58%) (Figure 3).

Supporting those who support others
From our research, it is evident that caregiving comes with sustained physical, mental and emotional demands that weigh on caregivers over time. As caregiving becomes an increasingly shared experience for more Singaporeans, strengthening our systems, support networks, and communities will become even more important to ensure that everyone is well supported – whether they rely on a caregiver, provide care or are simply navigating life’s transitions.

Dating – Is love still in the air?

Marriage has long been regarded as the cornerstone of family and society. But in Singapore, as in many globalised societies, more people are delaying or forgoing it. According to the Family Trend Report 2025 by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), marriage rates dropped by 7% in 2024 and the median age of first marriage continues to rise ¹. This has implications on our society such as increased pressure on social support systems, changing housing demands and a transformation of family structures. To better understand the dating and marriage landscape, RySense surveyed 2,549 Singapore residents aged 20 – 39 from our online panel, HappyDot.sg, in January 2025.

Dating and getting married are still important to young Singaporeans

Close to 2 in 3 think that dating and getting married are moderately/very important milestones (Figure 1). Among those who are not married, 62% want to get married. Even among singles who are not looking to date, about 3 in 10 hope to get married if possible (Figure 2).

It is heartening to know that dating and marriage remain meaningful life goals for young people. So what’s stopping our young people from meeting their social aspirations?

Dating challenges

1 in 2 find the dating scene more difficult compared to 10 years ago (Figure 3). Change in societal expectations, increased difficulty in meeting people, and that dating has become more casual are the top 3 challenges (Figure 4).

To navigate this challenging dating landscape, what can be done to help young Singaporeans find their happily ever after?

Understanding what one seeks in a partner

To start, it helps to understand what qualities young Singaporeans seek in a partner. The top 3 on the list are compatible personality, similar values and emotional intelligence (Figure 5a). Career and salary ranked lower on the list.

Equally important in this love equation is what young Singaporeans would not tolerate – disrespectful behaviour, financial irresponsibility and poor personal hygiene are among the top 3 dealbreakers (Figure 5b).

Through understanding their own expectations, young Singaporeans can align themselves with partners who genuinely reflect what matters most to them.

Dating is often seen as a private matter between two parties, but their social circles matter as well. While half indicated that no one has an influence on their choice of partner, the other half pointed to their social network as having an influence. Parents (28%) have a greater influence than friends (15%) among females, whereas both parents (19%) and friends (19%) have equal influence on males’ choice of partner (Figure 6). Given the meaningful role that the social network can play, parents and friends can share their own relationship experiences with young Singaporeans, offering support through relationship challenges.

Methods of meeting a partner

Organic meetings are the most preferred method of meeting a partner, with 79% open to meeting a potential partner through school, work or at a place of worship, and 72% open to introductions by a friend/family member (Figure 7).

In this digital age, online platforms have become increasingly common and a practical way to meet potential partners, with 65% open to using them (Figure 7). However, safety is a concern – about 16% think online platforms are moderately/extremely safe. Females are less likely to think so (Figure 8).

Towards finding meaningful relationships

While dating appears more complex and challenging today, the desire for connection is still significant among young Singaporeans. The insights from our research highlight the importance of understanding what young people seek in a partner, the influence of their social networks, and the role of both traditional and online platforms in meeting potential partners. By addressing these challenges and leveraging the support of their social circles, young Singaporeans can better navigate the complexities of modern dating and work towards finding their happily ever after.