Canadians continue to express concerns about artificial intelligence, but a new study from EY suggests many are already relying on the technology in their daily lives, including a growing number who allow AI systems to make decisions on their behalf.
The 2026 EY AI Sentiment Study found AI use has become common across a range of activities, from travel planning and customer service interactions to health information and smart-device management. The report also found that 13 per cent of Canadians have used autonomous AI systems in the past six months, allowing the technology to take actions on their behalf rather than simply offering recommendations.
The findings point to a gap between public attitudes toward AI and how the technology is being adopted in practice. While concerns about security, accountability and oversight remain widespread, Canadians are increasingly integrating AI into routine decisions and activities.
“What we’re seeing is less about blind trust and more about conditional permission,” says Biren Agnihotri, EY Canada Chief Technology Officer. “Canadians are comfortable with AI in familiar, low–risk moments, and that everyday experience is reshaping how trust actually develops.”
According to the study, the use of autonomous AI remains limited to a minority of Canadians, but EY said the results indicate some consumers are becoming more comfortable granting technology greater decision-making authority.
The report found people are most willing to use autonomous AI in situations involving routine and easily reversible decisions, including redeeming loyalty points, resolving customer service issues and managing home security systems.
EY said Canadians who already use AI are more receptive to autonomous decision-making than those who do not, suggesting experience with the technology is linked to greater acceptance.
Beyond autonomous applications, the study found AI is already embedded in many everyday activities. Seventy-eight per cent of Canadians reported using AI in energy and mobility-related tasks, including route optimization, travel planning and managing home energy consumption.
Another 67 per cent said they had interacted with AI through customer experiences such as chatbots, recommendations and personalized offers.
The study also found 61 per cent of Canadians use AI in technology and entertainment applications, including content recommendations and smart-device management. Fifty-five per cent reported using AI for health and wellness purposes, such as accessing health information, checking symptoms or receiving insights through wearable devices.
Despite those levels of adoption, the research found concerns about AI remain significant.
Seventy-one per cent of respondents said they worry about AI systems being hacked or breached, making security the most commonly cited concern. Trust in organizations handling AI-related data also remains limited, with only 39 per cent saying they trust companies to protect their information when it is used by AI.
The study found concerns extend beyond cybersecurity. Two-thirds of Canadians worry organizations may not be accountable for harm caused by AI-driven outcomes, while 59 per cent fear AI decisions could conflict with their personal values.
At the same time, 72 per cent said human oversight remains necessary even when AI systems perform accurately, underscoring continuing expectations that people remain involved in decision-making processes as the technology becomes more widely used.
The findings suggest AI adoption is advancing across multiple aspects of daily life even as questions about security, accountability and control continue to shape how Canadians view the technology.
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