What Consumers Prefer: Irrelevant to Many Big Tech Outfits
March 30, 2026
Another dinobaby post. No AI unless it is an image. This dinobaby is not Grandma Moses, just Grandpa Arnold.
I love it when mid tier consulting firms come up with research projects that shock. A good example is the information in “50 Percent of Consumers Prefer Brands That Avoid GenAI Content.” The article reports:
According to Gartner, 50 percent of U.S. consumers say they would prefer to do business with brands that avoid using GenAI in consumer facing content like advertising, messaging, and marketing materials.
As Arvin Haddad asks, “Can you spot the flaw? I will give you 10 seconds.” Give up? Think Coke or Pepsi. Real Florida orange juice or a chemist’s confection?
Thanks, Venice.ai. Cluttered and lame but good enough.
The “flaw” is that the question asks if a respondent can recognize “GenAI content.” Can you? Can your co-workers? Can another AI recognize the output of an AI? Can you determine if an illustration in one of my posts comes from the pen of a creator, a scan of an image from a book in the public domain, or from a smart software system? Is a college professor able to spot AI output in a student’s lab report, essay, or solution to a calculus problem? Can you recognize the “GenAI” content in your new vehicle’s on-board Sirius XM program you are streaming from its upgraded speakers?
My thought is that the answer to these questions is, “I have no clue. Sirius XM and AI. What?”
The cited article continues:
Sixty one percent of respondents said they frequently question whether the information they rely on for everyday decisions is reliable. Meanwhile, 68 percent said they often wonder whether the content and information they see is actually real. That kind of skepticism creates a tricky environment for companies that are pumping out AI generated marketing material. The technology might be capable of producing endless content at scale, but if consumers start questioning its authenticity, the strategy could easily backfire.
Microsoft is backtracking on its dive into the Copilot’s seat. Now the leadership wants to deplane and maybe grab a Coke Zero and think about the appellation Microslop.
The point of the shocking study and this article is not anchored in the preference of a “consumer.” The whole shebang has one goal: Sell consulting work. My reaction to the study was, “Hey, let’s put this information in front of our consumer product clients and suggest that we can create an AI density score. Once a high score emerges, we can assist that poor, confused, benighted company lower its detectable AI.”
Here’s a gem from the cited nerds.xyz write up:
Weiss also offered some practical advice for marketers trying to navigate the situation. “To reduce risk and build trust, marketers should make GenAI optional rather than mandatory, start with clearly assistive use cases that deliver immediate customer value, and label AI driven experiences, so people understand when and how AI is being used,” she said. “Marketers should also make verification easy by backing claims with clear proof points and governance, because consumers are increasingly skeptical about what they see and hear. When AI is transparent, helpful, and in the customer’s control, it can strengthen the experience instead of weakening trust.”
There you go. Trust. I have seen data in the last few years suggesting that consumer trust, voter trust, and business trust continue to decline across numerous demographic segments. Does that suggest that surveys supporting comments about trust are probably a little wobbly?
How confident am I that this mid tier consulting outfit can’t do much to either identify or help anyone else spot AI slop? Pretty confident. If Google cannot do it, can a lesser outfit? Nope. Don’t believe me? Read this.
Net net: How much AI was used by the consultants who generated the concept of the study, the questions, and the analysis? I would wager one thin dime that smart software’s clammy paws walked across a corner of this project. What if I am incorrect? Just check with AI. It works great. That is why Big AI Tech or the BAIT companies are fishing for clients, use cases, hooks, examples, and even consultants.
Stephen E Arnold, March 30, 2026
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