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Americans expect companies to lend a hand when disaster strikes

by | Dec 27, 2017 | Public Relations

New research reveals that while some Americans may feel ambivalent about artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change, they expect their favorite companies to get involved in local relief efforts and support affected employees when natural disasters happen.

Product sourcing and supply chain management firm LevaData recently released the results of its new survey exploring changing consumer attitudes related to major supply chain disruptions, such as AI, climate change, and natural disasters. The survey polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults and was conducted on behalf of LevaData by Propeller Insights on October 12-16.

American sentiments on AI are split

Americans are almost evenly divided on whether or not artificial intelligence will have a positive or negative impact on the future: just under half (46 percent) say the impact will likely be negative, while just over half say the impact will be positive (34 percent) or neutral (20 percent).

More than two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) believe that AI will eliminate certain jobs, and more than half (52 percent) say the rise of AI will mean fewer jobs, period.

Interestingly, most Americans are not too concerned about their own job—21 percent say AI won’t replace their job in the next ten years, and 41 percent say AI will never replace their job. But this confidence decreases the younger the demographic: while 57 percent of Baby Boomers say their jobs will never be replaced by AI, only 31 percent of Millennials feel as certain, and half of Millennials (50 percent) say AI will replace their job in the next 1-10 years.

But this is not the only impact Americans foresee AI having on the job market:

  • 28 percent of Americans expect to soon be working alongside a robot
  • 27 percent anticipate a drop in wages
  • 18 percent expect to be able to shop without human interaction
  • 13 percent say AI will help them do their jobs
  • 10 percent say jobs on Wall Street will be automated

Americans anticipate that many industries will be affected by AI; top among them:

  • Manufacturing – 33 percent
  • Customer service – 18 percent
  • Shipping and logistics – 13 percent
  • Transportation – 8 percent
  • Sales – 7 percent

Food costs, coastlines and natural disasters top of mind

When it comes to the world’s changing climate, Americans feel most worried about rising food prices (44 percent) and the loss of coastline (40 percent). Other things keeping them up at night include:

  • Diminishing food options at the supermarket – 26 percent
  • An increase in refugees – 17 percent
  • Higher clothing pricing – 12 percent
  • Being forced to move – 11 percent
  • Losing their favorite destinations – 11 percent

Amazingly, more than one in five Americans (22 percent) do not feel worried about global climate change, although this includes far more Baby Boomers (27 percent) than Millennials (16 percent).

In the wake of a natural disaster, Americans want companies to lend a helping hand and say they would blame their favorite brands for:

  • Failing to help affected employees – 41 percent
  • Failing to give time off to affected employees – 39 percent
  • Not supporting local relief efforts – 36 percent
  • Failing to donate to victims – 30 percent

“Supply chain companies and markets are being transformed by the adoption of AI solutions, as well as global climate change and the apparent increase in natural disasters. In the midst of these extraordinary and unique environmental and technological changes, we remain committed to delivering measurable and impactful solutions and strategies to our customers in the world’s leading supply chain organizations,” added LevaData CEO Rajesh Kalidindi, in a news release.

Richard Carufel
Richard Carufel is editor of Bulldog Reporter and the Daily ’Dog, one of the web’s leading sources of PR and marketing communications news and opinions. He has been reporting on the PR and communications industry for over 17 years, and has interviewed hundreds of journalists and PR industry leaders. Reach him at richard.carufel@bulldogreporter.com; @BulldogReporter

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