MOST Malaysians are confident that artificial intelligence will create more job opportunities in 2026, signalling a level of optimism that far exceeds global sentiment, according to findings released by Ipsos Malaysia.
Ipsos Malaysia managing director Arun Menon said Malaysians were notably more positive about the impact of AI on employment compared with respondents worldwide.
He said 67 per cent of Malaysians believed AI was likely to generate more jobs this year, while 27 per cent felt it would not.
“At the global level, 43 per cent say AI may create more job opportunities, while 46 per cent believe it is unlikely,” Arun said in a statement on Monday.
“This indicates that globally, many remain uncertain whether AI will create more jobs in 2026, with opinions almost evenly split between optimism and scepticism,” he added.
The findings are part of Ipsos’ report titled Aspirations of Malaysians for 2026, based on a representative sample of 500 Malaysian adults aged between 18 and 74. The global survey involved 23,642 respondents.
Beyond attitudes towards AI, the study found strong overall optimism among Malaysians about the year ahead. Arun said 82 per cent of respondents believed 2026 would be a better year for them personally compared with 2025.
He added that long-term confidence was also high, with 77 per cent of Malaysians expressing optimism about the future, significantly above the global average of 52 per cent.
“This broadly positive sentiment reflects sustained confidence among the majority of Malaysians in the country’s direction and its long-term prospects,” he said.
In terms of lifestyle priorities, Arun noted that Malaysians were planning to focus more on personal well-being and relationships in 2026.
The survey found that 90 per cent intended to spend more time with family and friends, 86 per cent planned to exercise more, and 75 per cent aimed to pay greater attention to their personal appearance.
“This points to a shift in priorities, with Malaysians placing higher value on balance,” he said.
“They are investing not only in work and progress, but also in health, relationships and self-improvement in the year ahead,” he added.
The study also found that 60 per cent of Malaysians planned to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, slightly higher than the global average of 59 per cent, despite recent controversies surrounding Malaysian football. - January 12, 2026
