Business in Society Report 2026
Where trust meets expectation.
Artificial intelligence is driving markets and dominating headlines. But Americans are cooling on AI. And in a time of rising prices, eight in 10 think businesses have raised prices more than necessary to increase their profits. How can executives regain consumers' trust? The first step is understanding what Americans expect from companies today.
FULL REPORT COMING OCTOBER 8
Highlights from this year’s nationally representative survey of U.S. adults.
of young Americans (18–29) don’t trust businesses to use AI, the highest of any age group
Survey question
How much do you trust businesses to use artificial intelligence responsibly?
Age 18–29
Age 30–44
Age 45–59
Age 60+
Overall
Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report 2026
- A lot / Some
- Not much / Not at all
of Americans have a negative view of companies using AI to create ads, and only 19% have a positive view.
Survey question
How do you feel about businesses using artificial intelligence to create ads?
- Very positive
- Somewhat positive
- Neither
- Somewhat negative
- Very negative
“People often complain about ads and treat them like an annoyance, but they're actually an important communication between company and customer. People want that communication to be authentic and human-to-human, not computer-generated.”
Associate Professor of Mathematics and Data Science
Americans Aren’t Sold on Businesses Using AI in Advertising
They are more open to AI when it supports creativity rather than replaces people.
Read the Paper
Professor of Computer Information Systems
Bentley University
Americans Cool Toward AI
After two years of improving attitudes toward AI, Americans turn skeptical.
Read the Paper