ST. LOUIS, July 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers lack a
full understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are looking
to businesses, government and academia for education, according to
a FleishmanHillard report released today. The report highlights
that 61% of all those surveyed believe the responsibility for
educating the public about AI should be shared.
The report, Artificial Intelligence & Communications, The
Fads. The Fears. The Future., surveyed consumers across
the United States and the
United Kingdom about their current
sentiment on AI. It also asked a panel of 25 global experts in the
AI field to provide their perspectives on the key areas where AI is
impacting our world. The result is a snapshot of the public's
attitudes on AI that analyzes common fears and opportunities,
providing organizations with insights into how their audiences want
them to engage going forward.
"The universal takeaway is that if the technology industry is to
build public trust, we need to address the AI knowledge gap fast,"
said Sophie Scott, global managing
director of FleishmanHillard's technology sector group. "We need to
reassure both businesses and consumers that AI is not about remote
science-fiction style gadgets in 2050. It's about tools – now and
today – that can drive productivity, boost profitability and, done
correctly, help everyone live better lives."
AI momentum is just starting to build, yet more than half of
global consumers (56%) already say that it needs more regulation
and restrictions. However, with proper education, these concerns
may be tempered. The study found a strong appetite for further
knowledge, with 53% of respondents saying they believe that
education about the role of AI in society needs to improve.
"The study found that regardless of age group, consumers are
looking to a combination of stakeholders from business, government
and academia to help educate the public," Scott said. "It's not
enough to build the AI system, product or solution. We need to take
an active role in helping consumers understand what AI is, how it
works and its implications."
Select insights from the report include:
Positivity around AI's potential
Nearly half (45%) of
respondents either agree, or strongly agree, that the positive
aspects of AI outweigh the negatives, with 49% agreeing that AI is
an exciting and exhilarating topic, and that automation will change
our lives and jobs for the better.
AI has yet to deliver on expectations
The public is
less certain about whether AI is currently impacting our working
lives. While 49% of those surveyed agree that AI and automation
will change the way we work for the better, only 31% feel that they
had already seen the benefits; 40% had not seen a difference. When
asked to select which sectors will be most disrupted by AI over the
next five years, respondents picked communications (81%),
healthcare services (74%), consumer and at-home technology (72%)
and social media and networking (61%). Financial services and
professional services came fifth and sixth respectively, while food
and agriculture was ranked as the least likely to be impacted by
AI.
AI is everywhere – if you're under 45
A majority of
respondents in the United States
and the UK reported encountering or using AI technologies on at
least a monthly basis (59% and 51% respectively). However, of
respondents aged 18 to 44, over half reported using AI on a weekly
basis, and made up over 80% of those who used AI daily. Less than
one third of those aged over 45 reported using AI on a weekly
basis.
"While there is some apprehension around AI, our panel was
focused on the future and the groundbreaking opportunities the
technology will enable – rapid and precise diagnoses in healthcare,
better crop yields and stronger cybersecurity, just to name a few,"
Scott added.
FleishmanHillard TRUE Global Intelligence developed the research
report, which was carried out by Finer Weston Data Analysis. They
surveyed 2,000 consumers in the United
States and UK online, with responses collected in
May 2018.
About FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard specializes in
public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand
marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content
strategy. FleishmanHillard was named Agency of the Year at the 2017
North American Excellence Awards; 2017 ICCO Network of the Year for
the Americas and EMEA; PRWeek's Best Places to Work 2017; PR News'
Best Places to Work in PR 2016-2017; Human Rights Campaign Best
Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality for 2018; PR Awards Asia 2017
Greater China Agency of the Year; and NAFE's "Top 50 Companies for
Executive Women" for 2010-2018. The firm's award-winning work is
widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of
Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations
Group, and has more than 80 offices in 30 countries, plus
affiliates in 43 countries.
About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public
Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global
public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in
areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global
health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses
more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330
offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies,
government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of
industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group
of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., that includes more
than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines
including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer
relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding
and research.
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SOURCE FleishmanHillard