Survey Revealed Global Consumer Hesitance Toward AI Data
New research shows that few global consumers feel comfortable granting AI assistants access to their personal data.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Usercentrics published findings indicating that only 7 per cent of global consumers are comfortable granting AI assistants access to their data without conditions. Another 16 per cent of global users grant access despite feeling uncomfortable, highlighting a reliance on resigned consent.
Why it matters
The survey results underscore a significant tension between the data-intensive requirements of AI assistants and the privacy expectations of the broader public. This resistance likely impacts how developers approach user permission flows and long-term product adoption.
While only 7 per cent of global consumers are comfortable granting AI data access, resigned consent levels vary, reaching 24 per cent in Germany compared to 11 per cent in the UK and 10 per cent in the US.
The players
Usercentrics
A provider of consent management platforms that helps businesses achieve compliance with international data privacy regulations.
The details
The study measured consumer willingness to share information across six distinct categories to assess the threshold for data-sharing friction. It differentiates between voluntary consent and resigned consent, a phenomenon where users feel uncomfortable but grant access anyway. In the UK, 40 per cent of consumers refuse to give AI access to required tools, and 53 per cent block access to financial accounts.
Timeline
2026: Usercentrics published the State of Digital Trust findings.
The Tech Race
This data provides a baseline for the industry's ongoing struggle to integrate personal data into AI workflows while maintaining user retention. It follows the broader trend established in the Usercentrics' State of Digital Trust 2026 report regarding public sentiment toward digital privacy.
Users currently face a decision point where nearly half of global consumers report they would rather stop using an AI tool entirely than grant access to financial data. This friction suggests that future AI tools may require more granular privacy controls to maintain user trust.
The takeaway
The data suggests that widespread adoption of AI assistants faces a substantial privacy barrier among users concerned about financial and tool-level access. Industry observers should watch for how upcoming product updates reconcile these high refusal rates with the functional requirements of AI agents.
Further reading
For broader trends in user data interaction and privacy, explore Artificial Intelligence.
Live Poll
Do you feel comfortable granting artificial intelligence tools access to your personal data?
