Retail / news
Singapore Shoppers Lean on AI Assistants, but 58% Balk at Letting Them Pay
Almost three-quarters of Singapore consumers now shop with AI assistants, yet fewer than a third are comfortable letting those assistants complete a purchase, according to Adyen's 2026 Singapore Retail Report.
Adyen's 2026 Singapore Retail Report found that 72% of Singapore consumers turn to AI assistants while shopping, with 42% using them on a weekly basis or more often. The reliance on automated help spans browsing and product discovery, but stops short of the transaction itself.
Just 29% of respondents said they are comfortable letting an AI assistant finish a purchase, while 58% said they are uncomfortable with the idea. Among shoppers who already use AI tools, 49% would hesitate once they reach the payment stage.
The hesitancy persists even as AI-influenced traffic outperforms conventional visitors on commercial measures. Shoppers referred by AI generate 53% more revenue per visit than non-AI traffic and convert at a rate 54% higher.
Results on the merchant side are mixed. Of retailers using AI for personalisation and recommendations, 39% reported higher turnover, while 24% logged a decline.
Adoption is also being held back by structural worries. Some 36% of merchants cited the risk of losing direct customer relationships or brand control as a reason to delay rolling out AI more widely.