When asked if they were worried about the use of AI in either the grocery industry or food service, while 26.5% were worried about the potential negative impact on jobs, 21.8% were concerned about privacy. Only 16.3% believed it’s a good idea. When asked if they are willing to shop at a grocery store knowing the company uses AI, while 30.2% were comfortable with the concept, 50.2% didn’t know how they felt about it. Many remained confused about AI.
The survey also looked at whether Canadians thought that AI could improve grocery shopping or restaurant experiences. A total of 47.7% believed AI can offer faster checkout times at the grocery store and 28.5% believed AI can offer a more personalized experience. A total of 28% believed AI can provide better product or dish recommendations..
In the survey, participants were asked about their level of trust in companies to use AI ethically within the grocery industry or restaurant sector. The results indicate that 40.3% of respondents expressed a lack of trust in food companies’ ethical use of AI. Interestingly, this figure is nearly twice as high as the 21.9% of Canadians who share the same sentiment towards food companies’ utilization of AI at present.
One of the questions posed in the survey aimed to gauge respondents’ opinions on the potential risks associated with the increasing utilization of AI in the food industry. Specifically, participants were asked whether they believed this growing trend could result in food supplies being exploited as weapons, thereby endangering consumers. Out of the respondents, 27% expressed concerns regarding this possibility, while a notable 48.2% admitted to having no clear perspective on the matter.
In essence, most Canadians don’t know what to think of AI, but many fear it. Trust is the essential ingredient for a successful recipe in the food industry’s AI revolution. The report revealed a concerning disparity as the number of Canadians who didn’t trust food companies with AI was nearly double those who did. Building trust through ethical practices and transparent use of AI will be vital to meet the evolving needs of consumers.