March 6th, 2024, Kineree Shah
Mobile World Congress 2024 has wrapped up, unveiling a range of technological innovations that could soon become part of our daily lives. YouGov conducted a survey among 1,000 US adults to gauge interest in some of the most talked-about announcements from the event. Here’s a snapshot of America’s readiness for these future technologies.
One notable concept presented at MWC was the idea of a bendable smartphone designed to be worn on the wrist. Despite its innovative appeal, the survey reveals a divided public opinion, with 44% showing interest while 50% expressed disinterest. Similarly, the concept of wearable smart rings for health and fitness tracking has 52% interested. When compared to smartwatches, 56% of Americans showed a preference for the ring format for health tracking, yet, for making payments, enthusiasm waned, with seven in 10 not interested in using smart rings for this purpose.
The survey also touched on the futuristic concept of flying cars. Here, skepticism prevails with 57% doubting the safety of such vehicles, although 46% expressed an interest in purchasing one if proven safe. As for the use of laptops with fully transparent displays, 38% are intrigued by the idea, yet a majority of 51% are not, suggesting practicality may outweigh the novelty for most.
Robot dogs as pets received a chilly reception, with only one in five interested (21%) and a significant three-quarters not interested. When it comes to AI apps on smartphones, only a quarter believe they currently use one, and 36% would be comfortable installing such an app, signaling a cautious approach towards AI's role in personal technology.
The idea of a smartphone utilizing one AI app to cater to all user needs also saw mixed reactions, with 36% interested versus 49% not. This indicates a potential resistance to over-simplification or concerns about privacy and data security with AI.
Our findings from YouGov Self-serve reveal a complex landscape of consumer interest and concern towards emerging technologies showcased at MWC 2024. While there's a clear intrigue towards the advancement of wearable tech and the potential of AI, apprehensions about safety, privacy, and the loss of traditional experiences remain significant.
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Methodology: YouGov polled 1000 US adults online on Feb 29 - March 1, 2024. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, race, political affiliation, education level and region. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Self-serve.