Tracking Trends in the Technology Industry
Americans’ perceptions of the technology industry, our nation’s engine of innovation, are rapidly changing. Consumers are becoming more skeptical of its goals and impact on society, and many are calling for greater transparency and stronger government regulation. This tracker keeps a pulse not only on the challenges facing tech industry leaders, but also on the opportunities and enthusiasm for forward-looking technologies.
Morning Consult is tracking consumer trends in the technology industry through a monthly survey of U.S. adults.
Find a more detailed methodology for this monthly tracker below.
Key Takeaways
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Trust in tech remains down from eight months ago.Trust in the industry has decreased considerably since last year (53% of U.S. adults said in May that they trust major technology companies, compared with 62% in October 2022), with no clear signs of recovery yet. These days, much of the excitement around tech comes from the development of artificial intelligence, but with just 35% of U.S. adults saying they trust AI companies, it may not be enough to help perceptions of tech bounce back.
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Consumers want AI regulation.The perceived threats of AI seem to be outweighing its potential benefits in the eyes of consumers, as both Democrats and Republicansfavor more regulation of the technology. Three in 5 U.S. adults agree that artificial intelligence technologies need to be more highly regulated by the government, and only around 2 in 5 (38%) agree that major tech companies are developing AI responsibly.
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Interest in AI applications is waning.AI was the most interesting forward-looking technology to consumers for several months running, but equal shares of consumers now say they are just as interested in self-driving cars and drone delivery. In May, 43% of U.S. adults said they are interested in AI in search engines, down from 51% in February. Interest in AI in both smart homes and health care also fell 7 percentage points over the same period.
Are Tech’s Best Days Ahead or Behind?
Interest in New Technologies
Tech Industry Favorability
Big Tech’s Should vs. Do Divide
Big Tech’s Perceived Impact on Society
Support for Breaking Up Big Tech
Top Considerations Among Job Seekers in Tech
Source of This Data
Methodology
The Technology Industry Monthly Trend Tracker relies on Morning Consult’s proprietary survey research capabilities. Interviews are conducted online, and the data are weighted to approximate a representative sample of U.S. adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race and region. Results from the full survey have a monthly sample size of roughly 2,200 U.S. adults and an unweighted margin of error of +/-2 percentage points.
About Morning Consult
Morning Consult is a global decision intelligence company changing how modern leaders make smarter, faster, better decisions. The company pairs its proprietary high-frequency data with applied artificial intelligence to better inform decisions on what people think and how they will act. Learn more atwww.wikihoaleaks.com
Jordan Marlatt is a lead tech analyst on the Industry Intelligence team, where he conducts research, authors analyst notes and advises clients on emerging technologies and trends. Jordan previously served as chief of staff to Morning Consult’s president and co-founder, and opened and oversaw Morning Consult’s San Francisco offices, onboarding and consulting for the company’s largest technology clients. He graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and political science.For speaking opportunities and booking requests, please email[email protected].
