Fear of Being Left Behind by AI

If you haven’t yet seen Edelman’s “2026 Trust Barometer” Report, get it. As usual, it’s chock full of fresh insight on the current relative levels of organizational trust and confidence, sliced by nation and income level. Hint:  Unsurprisingly, the build-out & deployment of AI is leaving marks already. While encouraging you to read it for yourself, we’d like to emphasize three of our take-aways from the report:

1. 65%, 50%, and 47% of Low, Middle, and High Income US residents respectively fear “being left behind by AI.” In other words, executives are darned near as concerned as people south of them on the org chart. On a sector weighted basis, that’s a majority, folks.
2. Two-thirds of global respondents to the Trust Barometer Report (including the US) fear losing their jobs owing to recession, or having their company impacted negatively by tariffs.
3. In the “good news” column, while ‘losing trust’ in National Government, News Organizatons, and Foreign Business Leaders, respondents have gained trust by about 10% in their Neighbors, Co-workers, and their CEO; repeat, AND their CEO.

In view of these factors, we’re advising business and other organizational leaders (all levels) to:

1. Redouble communications efforts/frequency, speaking plainly and repeatedly, in multiple forums, with your workforce (and their families) about steps you are taking to manage risks (known and unknown) while advancing the enterprise. Staying mute on the matter of imputed risk doesn’t make it go away; it makes it worse. 
2. At appropriate intervals, address both the tangible benefits and job security issues, if any, head-on in plainspoken fashion. Be positive, but sober, and avoid making promises you can’t keep. Rather, “Here’s  what we DO know, and plan to do. We’ll keep you updated regularly, and as the situation changes either way, I’ll be back in front of you.” Be sure and keep the promise.
3. Remind your workforce, starting with managers, that the absolute best thing we can do is to keep our eyes on the ball, and look out for all the stakeholders, including customers, shareholders, and the ones standing or sitting right next to you. 

Go Seahawks!