US Leads Public Distrust in Innovation, New Survey Shows

By Jace Dela Cruz

Jan 15, 2024 02:53 AM EST

A new survey conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting this week revealed that businesses and governments are poorly managing and regulating new technologies.

US-TECHNOLOGY-IT-LIFESTYLE-CES — (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
A woman photographs a Humanoid Robot from AI Life with Bio-Inspired communicative AI, on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, 2024.

'Rebuilding Trust'

According to Reuters, the Edelman survey found that 39% of respondents expressed distrust in the capabilities of both businesses and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to introduce innovations, along with governments, to regulate them effectively.

In stark contrast, only 22% believed these entities were managing innovation well, with business emerging as the most trusted category to integrate innovation into society, ahead of NGOs, media, and government.

US Tops Global Public Distrust in Innovation

The United States has the highest level of mistrust about innovation management, with a staggering 56% saying that innovation was poorly managed, against 14% saying it was well managed.

The survey, encompassing 32,000 people across 28 countries, was conducted in November, offering insights into the prevailing sentiments towards technological advancements.

The report also sheds light on instances of resistance and pushback against technology, citing examples such as China retracting COVID-19 vaccine mandates in response to online opposition, US Republicans' opposition to electric vehicles, and a battle within Hollywood against using artificial intelligence (AI) in scriptwriting.

Political Dimension of Resistance

The survey, which said resistance to innovation is political, showed more resistance in politically right-leaning individuals, particularly in the US, Australia, Canada, and Germany.

The report also found the United Kingdom to be at the bottom of Edelman's Trust Barometer, which provides an average percent trust in business, NGOs, media, and government, with a score of 39%.

"Innovation is accelerating and should be a growth enabler, but it will be stymied if business doesn't pay as much attention to acceptance as it does research and development," Edelman CEO Richard Edelman said in a press release.