Study: 73% of Malaysians fear AI will lead to job loss

Nearly 73% of Malaysians fear that artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to significant job losses. This surpasses the global average of 65%, according to a recent Ipsos predictions 2025 survey. The survey surveyed 23,271 people across 33 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and more. 

The survey revealed that Malaysia is among the nations most concerned about job displacement due to AI, with Thailand and Singapore following behind at 66% and 59% respectively. Indonesia and Philippines show even greater anxiety with 85% and 81% of the population believing that AI will lead to job loss. Despite these fears, the survey revealed that optimism about the potential for AI to create new jobs remain strong.

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Globally, 43% of respondents believe AI will generate new roles, with China leading the way (77%), followed by Indonesia (64%) and Thailand (71%). Similarly, 65% of Malaysian respondents also feel that AI will create new jobs in the country. 

Alongside their views towards AI technology, the survey revealed that nearly half of Malaysians (45%) are likely to use less social media going into 2025, higher than the global average of 37%. In fact, 53% of Malaysians believe that children under the age of 14 will be banned from using social media. This is nearly twice the global sentiment of 28%. This could possibly be because more and more Malaysians (73%) note that many more people will live their lives in the virtual worlds, revealed the study. 

Looking towards 2025, Malaysians are optimistic that the year will be a better year than it was in 2024 (81%). Neighbouring countries Indonesia (90%), Philippines (87%), Thailand (79%) and Singapore (72%) also share similar sentiments. In 2025, Malaysians are looking to focus on their physical health (82%) and mental health (82%), with around 78% of Malaysians already starting to feel more optimistic about the long-term future. 

This optimism is largely placed in a stronger global economy, with 73% of Malaysians indicating that the global economy will be stronger in 2025 than it was in 2024. This is higher than the global average of 51%. 

Malaysian's anxiety towards AI reflects a broader concern about the future of work in the age of automation. A 2024 study by Ipsos titled "Understanding Asia" revealed that seven in 10 of APAC consumers in the APAC region are concerned about how their information is being collected by companies. This concern is particularly high in the Philippines (86%), Thailand (81%) and Singapore (81%).

As brands push for greater personalisation of services, they will need to be mindful to find the balance between making it easier for their customers to find new products, but also ensure that their privacy is being respected. This includes the need to develop and communicate robust privacy measures and build trust and maintain consumer confidence, said the study. 

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