Washington, DC – “A new nationally representative Consumer Reports survey  explores Americans’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making. The survey found that a majority of Americans are uncomfortable about the use of AI and algorithmic decision-making technology around major life moments as it relates to housing, employment, and healthcare. CR conducted this multi-mode survey of 2,022 US adults in May 2024. The full report also includes demographic insights.  Grace Gedye, policy analyst at CR, said, “Companies are using AI and algorithms behind the scenes to help determine everything from decisions about your health insurance coverage, to your prospects of landing your dream job, to who is going to get that perfect apartment you found on Zillow. We conducted this survey to get a better understanding of how consumers feel about the role AI and algorithms play in these high stakes decisions.”

The survey shows that a majority of Americans are uncomfortable with the use of AI in high-stakes decisions about their lives. We also found that in certain circumstances, Americans really want to understand what information an AI system is using to assess them, and want the chance to correct any incorrect information. Consumer Reports advocates for regulations that require AI systems to be more transparent, and that give consumers agency.”