Consumers are not deciding whether to trust AI agents in absolute terms; they are setting conditions for delegation. Drawing on a survey of 1,050 consumers across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, this article examines how approval steps, spending limits, verified identity and human escalation shape trust, and why the winning agentic products will be those that make autonomy bounded, transparent and recoverable when mistakes happen.

AI agents are moving consumers beyond simple assistance towards delegated action, but adoption is not progressing at the same speed. Blackbox research across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan shows that consumers are increasingly comfortable using AI to inform decisions, while remaining more cautious about allowing it to act autonomously. The real adoption challenge lies in permission, control and trust.

High-impact market research requires more than accurate data; it demands strategic storytelling. In Asia’s complex business landscape, insights often fail because they are designed for researchers rather than decision-makers. Blackbox bridges this gap by prioritizing context and executive-ready visualization. We utilize three specific principles to convert market intelligence into high-velocity business results, preventing insights from becoming obsolete.

Retail Realities (New Report)
The battle for the Singaporean shopper is no longer about convenience alone. In an era of algorithmic efficiency and digital fatigue, physical retail’s greatest advantage is not speed — but certainty, atmosphere, and belonging. The mall of the future is not a warehouse of transactions, but a Third Space where people go to verify, to linger, and to exist beyond the screen.

Asia’s e-commerce market is racing toward US$2 trillion, but the old playbook is dead. Is your brand ready for the revolution? Drawing on exclusive insights from 46 regional leaders, our latest report, “The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia,” uncovers the three tectonic shifts defining the future: the explosion of video commerce, AI-driven personalisation, and the borderless shelf. Discover the strategies you need to thrive in the experience economy.

Algorithms and Ambitions
This unique study examines how young Singapore investors (aged 25–39) are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their financial lives. It confirms that this digitally-native cohort has already executed a universal shift in behaviour, with 100% adoption of AI for investment decisions. This rapid, total integration of the 'AI co-pilot' presents an existential challenge to traditional financial advice models, demanding a new strategic response from financial institutions and technology providers.

The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia’s e-commerce sector is primed for a quality-of-growth leap. From 25+ hours with 46 experts, this report pinpoints five levers and market deep dives (Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam) to help platforms, policymakers, and MSMEs unlock scalable, cross-border momentum.