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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

Colleagues looking at a laptop

Highlights from this year’s nationally representative survey of U.S. adults.

79%

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?

Marco Marabelli

“College students and young professionals are afraid their future relies on how much companies will use AI instead of humans for everyday operations. And young people care more about environmental problems than older people do. AI contributes to global warming because it requires data centers that need large amounts of electricity and water.”

Marco Marabelli
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
E. LaBrent Chrite, President, Bentley University
Only by understanding Americans’ views on where companies are succeeding — and where they are falling short — can business leaders and the organizations they lead realize the true potential of good business.
E. LaBrent Chrite
President, Bentley University

Past Reports