CX Hot Topics Research

Ethics, Adoption, and Opinion: Consumer Perspectives on AI for CX

Despite clear performance gains and growing consumer usage, a paradox is taking shape when it comes to AI and consumers. Comfort with AI remains uneven across demographic groups, and overall enthusiasm toward AI has declined since 2023. Consumer concerns — which were once narrowly focused on accuracy and misrouting — now extend into broader societal questions related to data ethics, job displacement, transparency, and responsible stewardship of AI technologies. These concerns, although often not directly tied to CX-specific experiences, influence whether consumers are willing to trust and rely on AI-powered support.
This report explores that paradox. Drawing on fresh quantitative research and insights from prior EITK studies, we examine how adoption trends, demographic patterns, customer perceptions, and real-world experiences intersect to shape the evolving landscape of AI in CX. We look beyond usage trends to understand what consumers expect, what currently undermines their confidence, and where brands have the greatest opportunity to modernize experiences in ways that foster trust, reliability, and long-term loyalty.
Key Insights:

  • 56% of consumers would be open to interacting with an AI-powered virtual agent to resolve a customer care issue if it meant a faster, easier resolution.
  • When asked to indicate all the ways in which AI-powered solutions need improvement, 54% of consumers said, “Comprehend Better,” following by “Provide More Accurate Information” at 47%.
  • 32% of consumers feel companies are doing a good job of striking a balance between live and AI-powered assistance, while 63% feel there is too much AI-powered assistance.

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