WHAT THE DATA SAY: 30% of smartphone users worry about AI making decisions without consent

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

ECONOMIC PESSIMISM CONTINUES

Americans are still down about the economy – negativity that has persisted since our Harris Poll study with the Guardian first asked about the economy last September.

• When asked how they think about the U.S. economy today compared with the start of the summer, 35% said they were more pessimistic (versus 29% more optimistic and 36% feeling the same).
• 73% do not feel any positive effects of the positive economic news being reported.
• 61% believe inflation is increasing (it is falling).
• 49% believe the U.S. economy is in a recession (it’s not).

HOW SMART IS YOUR SMART DEVICE?

With devices like the iPhone 16, companies are racing to integrate AI features and set a new standard for mobile technology. Yet one in three smartphone users have key worries about AI, based on Stagwell’s National Research Group’s new “Are smart devices getting smarter?” study.

• 24% of smartphone users are already regularly using AI features.
• 69% anticipate nearly all smartphones will have integrated AI features within five years.
• Consumers’ top desires for AI are searching for information, translations and learning new skills.
• Employees’ top desires for AI are learning new skills, enhancing productivity and searching for information.
• When it comes to marketing AI-powered smart phones, 51% of men would be more likely to purchase a smartphone described as “built for AI.”
• Only 28% of women, however, would be more interested in buying a phone that was “built for AI” – the same number who would be turned off by such marketing.
• 30% of smartphone users worry about AI making decisions without their consent.
• 75% of users believe apps should disclose when they use AI.
• Consumers’ top concerns about AI in mobile apps: too much AI-generated content on social media (31%); AI might make decisions without consent (30%); harder to protect personal data and privacy (30%); easier for people to spread misinformation online (28%); and apps will be misused by scammers and cybercriminals (27%).

58% DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Career development is critical to retain and attract talent, according to our Harris Poll research with Bright Horizons.

• 74% of employees want to develop new skills or pursue additional education.
• Yet 58% do not know where to start.
• 26% feel more pressure to learn new workplace skills due to AI.
• 30% worry that AI will replace their job.
• 52% of workers believe it’s their employer’s responsibility to guide them.

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