Survey finds a lack of enthusiasm about AI technology among food and beverage consumers

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Ingredient Communications has announced the results of a recent survey they commissioned. The survey, conducted by SurveyGoo, found that 83% of respondent agreed that companies should declare on product labels when a product has been designed or manufactured with the assistance of AI technology. Of those surveyed, 55% strongly agreed with this sentiment, with only 4% disagreeing.

Interestingly, 64% of respondents did not think food and beverage products made with the assistance of AI should be described as “natural.” Additionally, 78% of respondents agreed that the government should regulate the way food and drink companies can use AI to design and manufacture products. While 52% of respondents felt that generally speaking AI was a positive development that benefited humanity, less than that (42%) agreed with this sentiment when it related to the design and production of food and beverage products. This demonstrates that consumers broadly distrust the ability of AI technology to help develop safe products, as well as a lack of understanding on how manufacturers implement this technology.

In fact, 44% of respondents believed that food and beverages made using AI might be less safe to consume. That said, respondents were split on whether the use of AI would make them more or less likely to purchase a product, with 26% state they’d be more likely to purchase, and 29% stating they’d be less likely to purchase. The survey results also revealed generational differences in feelings toward AI, with Gen Z and Millennial respondents feeling more positively about the use of AI in food (65% and 57%, respectively), and Gen X and Boomers having a lower opinion of the technology (44% and 25%, respectively).

“Many food and beverage companies have rushed to embrace the benefits of AI technology but it’s important they take care to consider how consumers feel about this,” said Richard Clarke, managing directory of Ingredient Communications, in a press release. “We’ve seen a huge backlash against AI in the arts and entertainment business. To avoid the same fate, food and beverage manufacturers should pause to reflect on whether they are being sufficiently transparent about their use of AI.”