Americans are getting less concerned and more upbeat about automation. Much of this change is being driven by seniors.

1. © 2018 Ipsos 1
Americans’ Attitudes
Toward Automation in 2018
A Study by Ipsos Public Affairs and
the Center for Business Analytics of
the University of Virginia’s
McIntire School of Commerce
September 2018
Survey Findings
© 2018 Ipsos.
All rights reserved. Contains Ipsos' Confidential and Proprietary information and may
not be disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.

2. © 2018 Ipsos 2
Methodology
 In 2017, in partnership with the University of Virginia’s Center for Business Analytics, Ipsos conducted a baseline, comprehensive survey on Americans’
knowledge, usage, perceptions and attitudes toward automation. In 2018, Ipsos conducted a repeat survey to track changes pertaining to consumers’
feelings toward automation and workers’ expectations about automation depending on their sector of activity. The results of the 2018 survey are presented
in this document.
 The 2018 survey consisted of three questions already asked in the 2017 survey without any changes. It was conducted August 14-17, 2018 with a national
sample of 3,016 adults aged 18 and older. The baseline survey was conducted June 29-July 3, 2017 with a national sample of 2,982 adults aged 18 and
older.
 For each survey, the sample was randomly drawn from Ipsos’s online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner
online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method).
• This method does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing the sample.
After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the general U.S. population
using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments.
• The source of these population targets is the U.S. Census 2013 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample
targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education.
 Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited
to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding.
 The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In each of the 2017 and 2018 surveys, the credibility interval around percentages
for all respondents is +/- 2.0 points.
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018

3. © 2018 Ipsos 3
Questions (all already asked in 2017 without changes)
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
ASK ALL
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following:
[RANDOMIZE LIST]
In general, consumer automated devices are easy to use
Computers can produce more accurate health diagnoses than doctors
I worry a lot about my safety when using automated devices
I worry a lot about data security when using automated devices
Automation destroys more jobs than it creates
Automation has more benefits than it has drawbacks
Automation has improved the quality of products and services
Automation has improved the shopping experience
Automation has made life more interesting
Automation isolates people more than it brings them together
Automation has made life easier
Automation has made products and services more accessible
SCALE
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
ASK ONLY OF THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED [ASNWERED 1.FULL-TIME, 2. PART-TIME, 3. SELF-EMPLOYED, OR 9.MILITARY IN
SCREENER Q.EMP01]; IF NOT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED , DO NOT ASK
Q. Which of the following best describes or is closest to your
sector of activity? [ONE RESPONSE ONLY]
Administrative and support services
Arts, sports and recreation
Construction
Education
Farming, forestry and fishing
Financial, insurance and real estate services
Government services
Healthcare and social services
Hospitality and food services
Manufacturing
Media, publishing, telecommunications and data processing
Military
Mining and extraction
Police and emergency services, security
Professional, scientific and technical services
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Other (Specify: ______________________________)
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following:
[RANDOMIZE]
I worry about losing my job to automation
Most of what I do on the job today will be done by machines in 20 years
Automation has made the workplace less sociable and friendly
Automation has made my job easier
Automation has made me a more productive worker
Automation has made my current job totally different from what it was
20 years ago
Automation has made my job more interesting
Automation has made my job less stressful interesting
Automation has improved the quality of my work
SCALE
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree

4. © 2018 Ipsos 4
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following? Base (total) for each statement: 3,016 U.S. adults aged 18+ interviewed online August 14 - 17, 2018
64%
57%
70%
67%
56%
61%
49%
56%
53%
40%
48%
22%
I worry a lot about data security when using automated devices
Automation has made products and services more accessible
Automation has made life easier
Automation has improved the shopping experience
In general, consumer automated devices are easy to use
Automation destroys more jobs than it creates
Automation has made life more interesting
Automation has improved the quality of products and services
I worry a lot about my safety when using automated devices
Automation has more benefits than it has drawbacks
Computers can produce more accurate health diagnoses than
doctors
% of adults agreeing that…
• Americans are now less likely to
express negative feelings and
more likely to express positive
feelings about automation than
they were in 2017.
• While still widespread, concerns
related to isolation, job
destruction, safety and security
have receded.
• Americans are increasingly
viewing automation as having
more benefits than drawbacks,
making life easier and more
interesting, and making
products and services better,
more accessible, and easier to
use.
In the past year, Americans have become less concerned, more upbeat about automation
Automation isolates people more than it brings them together
CHANGE VS.
2017
-6
-12
+5
+4
-2
+5
-7
+4
+2
-7
+5
0

5. © 2018 Ipsos 5
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
63%
51%
80%
72%
67%
73%
65%
57%
71%
69%
66%
72%
63%
59%
67%
66%
58%
64%
69%
58%
66%
61%
46%
52%
61%
55%
72%
70%
50%
53%
I worry a lot about data security when
using automated devices
Automation isolates people more than
it brings them together
Automation has made products and
services more accessible
Automation has made life easier
Automation has improved the
shopping experience
In general, consumer automated
devices are easy to use
% of adults agreeing that…
• As expected, Americans under 35 are most optimistic or least pessimistic about nearly every aspect of automation
• Surprisingly, Americans aged 65 and older are more likely than those aged 35-64 to view automation has having a net benefit, making life easier and more
interesting, and making products and services better
• However, seniors are least trusting in automation’s ability to produce more accurate health diagnoses than doctors
Seniors are more optimistic about many aspects of automation than are 35-64 year-olds
44%
66%
59%
38%
47%
30%
53%
63%
64%
46%
57%
36%
52%
51%
50%
40%
47%
23%
50%
50%
41%
42%
38%
14%
42%
56%
57%
33%
52%
11%
Automation destroys more jobs than it
creates
Automation has made life more
interesting
Automation has improved the quality
of products and services
I worry a lot about my safety when
using automated devices
Automation has more benefits than it
has drawbacks
Computers can produce more accurate
health diagnoses than doctors
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following? Base by age group: 18-24 n = 205, 25-34 n = 597, 35-49 n = 850, 50-64 n = 648, 65+ n = 716.

6. © 2018 Ipsos 6
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
% of adults agreeing that…
• Among all age groups, Americans aged 65 and older show the most change in their views toward automation in the course of one year –
all pointing to less apprehension and more excitement
Seniors have taken a big step forward in embracing automation over the past year
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Automation has made products and services
more accessible
3% -6% 4% 8% 15%
Automation has made life easier 1% -12% 0% 11% 17%
Automation has improved the shopping
experience
-2% -8% 0% -3% 5%
In general, consumer automated devices are
easy to use
2% 3% -1% 3% 22%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
I worry a lot about data security when using
automated devices
-10% -5% -5% 2% -13%
Automation isolates people more than it
brings them together
-11% -10% -9% -8% -26%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Automation destroys more jobs than it
creates
-1% -1% -3% -12% -19%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Automation has made life more
interesting
-3% -4% 1% 7% 13%
Automation has improved the quality of
products and services
-6% -5% -3% -2% 21%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
Automation has more benefits than it
has drawbacks
-8% 3% -1% 5% 23%
Computers can produce more accurate
health diagnoses than doctors
-6% 4% 0% -1% -2%
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
I worry a lot about my safety when using
automated devices
-10% -2% -6% -2% -16%
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following? Base by age group: 18-24 n = 205, 25-34 n = 597, 35-49 n = 850, 50-64 n = 648, 65+ n = 716.

7. © 2018 Ipsos 7
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
% of employed adults agreeing that…
Automation affects each sector differently
* Caution: small base; ** Base too small to report
• Americans employed in extraction/utilities/construction and education most worry about losing their job to automation, expect their job to be done by machines
in 20 years, and see automation as making the workplace less friendly
• Those in manufacturing, in finance/real estate, professional/scientific/technical, and administration support services, and – despite being especially worried – in
education most see automation as having: totally changed their job in the past 20 years; made it easier, more interesting and less stressful; and made them more
productive. Those in government, arts/sports/recreation, wholesale and retail, transportation, and hospitality/food services are least likely to do so.
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following? Base (total) for each statement: 1,626 employed U.S. adults aged 18+ interviewed online August 14 - 17, 2018
Total
Farming
Forestry
Fishing
Mining
Extraction,
Utilities,
Construct.
Manufact.
Wholesale
Retail
Trade
Transport
Warehs’g*
Media
Publishing
Telecom
Data
process*
Financial
Insurance
Real Estate
Services
Profess'l
Scientific
Technical
Services
Admin.
Support
Services
Education
Healthcare
Social
Services
Arts Sports
Recreat’n*
Hospitality
Food
Services
Gov't
Services
(excl.
Police
Emerg.
Military)
Military
Police
Emergency
Services
Security
Base: Currently Employed (unwtd) 1628 15 116 80 146 43 43 82 124 96 264 184 43 78 75 32
Automation has made the workplace less sociable and
friendly
48% 56% 41% 52% 46% 46% 52% 45% 51% 60% 48% 60% 37% 22%
Automation has made my current job totally different
from what it was 20 years ago
54% 55% 64% 44% 41% 56% 66% 60% 59% 62% 59% 46% 46% 40%
Automation has made my job easier 53% 57% 62% 46% 38% 55% 65% 60% 60% 57% 53% 45% 45% 46%
Automation has made me a more productive worker 45%
**Base too
small
47% 55% 36% 33% 43% 57% 53% 54% 52% 41% 20% 39% 31%
**Base too
small
Automation has improved the quality of my work 46% to report 57% 47% 37% 46% 36% 47% 50% 53% 56% 44% 42% 45% 29% to report
Most of what I do on the job today will be done by
machines in 20 years
32% 49% 42% 30% 17% 40% 24% 26% 40% 44% 30% 24% 33% 17%
Automation has made my job less stressful 38% 50% 32% 27% 26% 40% 31% 40% 43% 50% 45% 31% 31% 23%
Automation has made my job more interesting 40% 48% 47% 31% 22% 48% 47% 42% 45% 48% 40% 36% 32% 29%
I worry about losing my job to automation 26% 48% 22% 24% 17% 31% 23% 25% 27% 38% 20% 33% 16% 8%

8. © 2018 Ipsos 8
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
Change between 2017 and 2018 in %
of employed adults agreeing that…
(percentage points)
Employed Americans are less worried about automation’s effect on the workplace
* Caution: small base; ** Base too small to report
• Since 2017, the most notable changes in attitudes toward automation by employed Americans is a significant drop in the percentage of those who worry about
losing their job because of it (-9 points), expect their job to be done by machines in 20 years (-8 points), and say it has made the workplace less sociable and
friendly (-7 points). This is paralleled with a gain in the percentage of those who say it’s made their job easier (+4 points ) and more interesting (+3 points).
Q. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following? Base (total) for each statement: 1,626 employed U.S. adults aged 18+ interviewed online August 14 - 17, 2018
-9
-8
-7
0
0
0
2
3
4
I worry about losing my job to automation
Most of what I do on the job today will be done by machines in 20 years
Automation has made the workplace less sociable and friendly
Automation has made my current job totally different from what it was 20…
Automation has made me a more productive worker
Automation has made my job less stressful
Automation has improved the quality of my work
Automation has made my job more interesting
Automation has made my job easier

9. © 2018 Ipsos 9
Why have Americans warmed up to automation so much in just one year?
Maybe ask Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri or Cortana…
Americans’ Attitudes Toward Automation in 2018
• A possible explanation for
Americans’ increasing comfort
with automation is the rapid
adoption of smart speakers.
These affordable, accessible,
and easy-to-use devices allow
consumers to familiarize
themselves with cutting-edge
automation technology in a
very personal way.
• Smart speakers are becoming
ubiquitous. Back in June of
2017, when the first wave of
the survey was conducted,
U.S. household penetration
was 8%. Only eight months
later, it had more than
doubled to 20%.
Source: Susan Engleson. “Smart Speaker Penetration Hits 20% of U.S. Wi-Fi Households.” comScore.

10. © 2018 Ipsos 10
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11. © 2018 Ipsos 11
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President
Ipsos Public Affairs
+1 202-420-2016
clifford.young@Ipsos.com
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