New research has shown that most consumers believed that food and beverage manufacturers should declare if a product has been made with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
In a survey commissioned by Ingredient Communications and SurveyGoo, 83 percent of respondents agreed that companies should declare on a product’s label if it has been designed or manufactured using AI technology.
More than half of those surveyed agreed strongly with this assertion, and only four percent disagreed with it altogether.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents believed that food and beverage products made with AI technology should not be described as ‘natural’ – 12 percent disagreed.
There was also strong support for regulation, with 78 percent of respondents agreeing that the Government should introduce laws controlling how food and drink companies can use AI technology to design and manufacture their products. Just six percent disagreed.
Most respondents agreed that it was a positive development that would benefit humanity. However, fewer respondents said they felt positive when asked how they felt about using AI to design and produce food and beverage products.
Just under half of the respondents believed that a food or beverage product made with the help of AI might be less safe to consume. However, they were split on whether they would be more or less likely to buy such a product.
The survey also revealed a distinct generational split. Most Generation Z and Millennial respondents felt optimistic about using AI in the food industry, but the corresponding figure among Generation X and Boomers was markedly lower.
“Many food and beverage companies have rushed to embrace the benefits of AI technology, but they must consider how consumers feel about this. We’ve seen a huge backlash against AI in the arts and entertainment business. To avoid the same fate, food and beverage manufacturers should pause to reflect on whether they are being sufficiently transparent about their use of AI,” said Richard Clarke, Managing Director of Ingredient Communications.
“As we saw 30 years ago with the furore over the safety of genetically modified crops, it’s easy for misinformation to spread and stir up fear. Food and beverage companies would be wise to implement a communications strategy to ensure the public is informed about how they harness the power of AI tech.”
Other takeaways from the survey included 79 percent of respondents agreeing that savings made by food and beverage companies through AI should be passed on to shoppers through lower retail prices.
However, sentiment shifted if this came at the expense of employment, with 40 percent considering it unacceptable if the use of AI technology to design and manufacture a food or beverage product meant somebody lost their job—even if the product was cheaper as a result.
