What Happened
Ping Identity published findings from its 2026 Consumer Survey on 9 October 2026, drawing on responses from 11,000 participants across 12 countries, including 1,000 Australians.
The survey found that Australians would, on average, permit an AI agent to spend AUD $200 on routine purchases without requiring final approval. That headline figure sits alongside a notable caveat: 53 per cent of Australian respondents said they would actually cap unsupervised AI spending at AUD $143 or less, indicating the average is pulled upward by a smaller group willing to extend greater latitude.
Globally, the appetite for autonomous AI action is even more constrained. Only 5 per cent of consumers worldwide said they are comfortable with AI taking action with their approval, and just 3 per cent are comfortable with routine transactions proceeding without any final sign-off.
Why It Matters
The results arrive as AI agents capable of completing purchases, booking services, and managing subscriptions are moving from concept to commercial deployment. According to the survey data reported by Mi-3, Australians are among the more cautious markets on AI autonomy: only 18 per cent said they are likely to let AI make decisions on their behalf, and 38 per cent said they are uncomfortable giving AI any level of responsibility at all, compared with 25 per cent of respondents globally.
Trust in the organisations handling identity data has also weakened. Globally, only 12 per cent of consumers expressed full trust in organisations to manage their identity data, down from 17 per cent in 2025. In Australia the figure is lower still, at 7 per cent.
Concerns about security and privacy are concrete. The survey found that 42 per cent of Australians worry AI will increase cybersecurity risks, and 43 per cent are concerned about AI invading their personal privacy.
Key Details
The survey recorded 68 per cent of Australians wanting to be informed whenever AI is being used in a service or transaction. That was the highest percentage of any country included in the study.
Ping Identity noted in the survey findings: "The more responsibility we give AI, the more important it becomes to be clear about what it can do, what it can access and who remains in control."
Background and Context
The 2026 Consumer Survey covered 11,000 participants across 12 countries. Australia's 1,000-person cohort placed the country among the more sceptical markets on questions of AI autonomy and data stewardship. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) oversees privacy regulation in Australia under the Privacy Act 1988, which sets obligations for how organisations collect, hold, and use personal information, including data processed by automated systems.
What Comes Next
Ping Identity did not specify a timeline for follow-up research. The survey data is likely to inform discussions among Australian businesses and regulators as agentic AI products reach consumers. The OAIC has previously indicated it is monitoring how automated decision-making intersects with existing privacy obligations, though no specific regulatory action was announced in connection with this survey.