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WordPress VIP Report: 60% of U.S. Consumers Find AI in Brand Messaging Turnoff

A new report by WordPress VIP reveals 60% of U.S. consumers find AI in brand messaging off-putting, with 86% lacking full trust in AI-generated content.

Photo: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels

A new report from WordPress VIP highlights growing consumer skepticism toward AI in brand messaging. According to the findings, 60% of U.S. consumers say that brands using 'AI' in their messaging are a turnoff. Additionally, 86% of consumers do not fully trust AI and still seek out original sources for information. The report, based on a survey of 2,000 respondents, underscores a shift in consumer expectations as brands adapt to an AI-driven digital landscape.

The survey, conducted in April and comprising 800 enterprise decision-makers and 1,200 U.S. adults, found that nearly three in four respondents believe the internet feels 'less human' than it did a decade ago. Brian Alvey, CTO of WordPress VIP, emphasized the importance of making content legible to AI agents, stating that if a site isn’t readable by AI, it risks becoming invisible to a growing share of search traffic.

The report also notes that despite consumer wariness, AI referrals to websites are increasing. Sixty percent of enterprise respondents reported a rise in traffic from AI search engines and answer platforms over the past year. WordPress VIP says these findings point to a future where brands must balance AI visibility with human trust.

Source: techcrunch

Key points

60% of U.S. consumers say that brands using 'AI' in their messaging are a turnoff.
86% of U.S. consumers do not fully trust AI and still want to explore original sources.
42% of consumers said AI-generated answers without clear attribution are trusted less than airline fees, confusing privacy policies, and medical bills.
Nearly three in four respondents said the internet feels 'less human' than it did 10 years ago.
60% of enterprise respondents said traffic from AI search engines and answer platforms increased over the past year.
33% of consumers said clicking through to see an original source is still their top trust signal.
80% of consumers said information on the web should remain openly accessible, rather than controlled by a small number of large organizations.

Source: TechCrunch Read the original →

WRITTEN BY

Marcus Feld

AI Business & Markets

Marcus reports on AI funding, acquisitions, partnerships, and the business behind the technology.