Eighteen months into the generative AI surge, the chasm between promised capabilities and actual deployment is widening, according to a series of reports released this week. The findings, covering business adoption, consumer sentiment, career impacts, and algorithmic fairness, indicate that progress is uneven and slower than widely portrayed.
The Daniel Research Group (DRG), based in Massachusetts, updated its forecast for the US personal devices market, estimating that only 18.4% of US businesses will actively use AI to produce goods or services by 2026. This represents an increase from 11.2% in 2025 and 3.9% in 2023, but the growth is concentrated among large enterprises and technology-heavy sectors. Small and mid-sized businesses, which constitute the majority of US firms, remain largely on the sidelines. DRG attributes this to cost, a shortage of qualified personnel, and unresolved questions about return on investment, alongside a deeper unease about delegating decisions to machines.
Consumer skepticism is equally pronounced. A Future of the Web survey by WordPress VIP, conducted by Talker Research among 2,000 respondents including 800 enterprise marketing decision-makers, found that 74% of individuals believe the internet feels less human than a decade ago. The average person experiences "bot fatigue" within about 40 minutes. Six in 10 respondents said AI in brand messaging is a turnoff, and most could not name a single company using AI effectively in marketing. AI-generated search results without clear attribution are now the least trusted online content, ranking below medical bills, airline fees, and confusing fine print. Despite this, 86% of consumers still click through to original sources after receiving an AI summary, while enterprises are shifting 60% of their audience reach to third-party platforms, with only 17% planning to prioritize their own websites for growth next year.
On the employment front, Randstad's analysis of over 35 million job postings since 2021 reveals that professionals with advanced AI credentials secure promotions up to 3.5 times faster than peers, and AI-integrated roles command salary premiums of up to 25%. Demand for distinctly human skills—creativity, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment—has also surged. "While today's headlines often focus on how automation is leading to job displacement, our data reveals a powerful human judgment premium emerging across the US workforce," said Greg Dyer, CCO of Randstad North America.
Perhaps the most troubling findings come from a peer-reviewed study led by Special Olympics in partnership with Oregon State University, published in the Disability and Health Journal. Researchers asked five large language models, including GPT-4-Turbo, to generate 25,000 short stories about everyday situations, comparing those describing a person with an intellectual disability against those that did not. Across all systems, stories about people with intellectual disabilities consistently portrayed them as more dependent, more childlike, and more in need of supervision, with some stories over 100 times more likely to carry a paternalistic tone. "Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming foundational to how our world operates, from healthcare to education to economic opportunity. That makes this a pivotal moment. If we do not intentionally design for inclusion from the outset, we risk embedding bias into systems that will scale globally and persist for generations," said Nathan Cook, Special Olympics Chief Information and Technology Officer.
These developments come amid broader market and regulatory shifts. For instance, the St. Clair Shores Pension Fund Alleges Microsoft Misled Investors on Copilot AI Adoption, highlighting investor scrutiny over AI claims. Meanwhile, Market Turmoil Tests Advisors: Client Trust Built on Communication, Not Portfolio Returns underscores the importance of human judgment in volatile times. As AI adoption remains uneven, financial advisors should monitor these trends for implications on portfolio strategies and client communication.
