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Meltwater and YouGov Release Global Report on Consumer Perception of Generative AI

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meltwater, a global leader in media, social, and consumer intelligence, and YouGov, the international research and data analytics group, today released Trust in the Age of Generative AI, a new report exploring how the rapid rise of AI-generated video, audio, images and text is shaping consumer trust in brands and content. The study analyzed consumer attitudes toward generative AI (GenAI) and the media environments influencing those perceptions, offering insights for brands navigating this emerging landscape.

As GenAI becomes more integrated into marketing and communications, the report’s findings reveal a pivotal moment for brands, not only in how they adopt AI, but in how it redefines their approach to building trust with audiences. Drawing on insights from nearly 10,000 consumers across seven global markets, the research explores what the expectations are around transparency, authenticity, and credibility as AI adoption increases.

Rather than signaling risk alone, the findings also point to a meaningful opportunity: consumers want brands to be transparent, intentional, and audience-first in their use of AI – and those that are could differentiate themselves and build stronger, more trusted relationships with their audiences.

Key findings from the report include:

  • A clear path to trust: 86% of consumers say AI-generated content should be disclosed, signaling a strong opportunity for brands to lead with transparency.
  • Closing the trust gap through intention: While 32% say they would trust brands less if content is AI-generated, 15% would trust them more, highlighting the importance of how AI is used and communicated.
  • Skepticism outweighs excitement: While 39% of consumers are excited about AI, 51% disagree.
  • AI awareness is rising: 58% believe they can identify AI-generated content, while online mentions have risen 53%, with media driving 34% of coverage.
  • Misinformation is a key concern: While 73% are concerned about misinformation, this creates space for brands to stand out as trusted, reliable sources.
  • Context matters: Acceptance of AI is higher in entertainment (53%) and advertising (47%), but very low in news (21%) and influencer content (28%).
  • Driving the conversation: Most high-impact conversations around AI are driven by individual creators on social media (92% of top posts), rather than traditional news media (8%).
  • AI video leads engagement and growth: Posts referencing AI video tripled and engagement surged (557%) from March ’25 to Feb ’26, outperforming other formats in positive sentiment and engagement.

“These insights show that trust is not being lost, it’s being redefined,” said Chris Hackney, Chief Product Officer at Meltwater. “Generative AI gives brands a powerful new way to connect with audiences, but success will depend on how transparently and thoughtfully it’s used. The brands that lead with clarity and accountability have a real opportunity to build deeper trust than ever before.”

“Generative AI has moved from novelty to normality at remarkable speed,” said Andrew Farmer, Global Head of PR and Editorial at YouGov. “PR and brand professionals now operate in a landscape where the line between human and machine-generated content is increasingly blurred. It is important for comms teams and brand insight analysts to understand how Generative AI is shaping how audiences interpret authenticity, credibility and trust. YouGov’s data suggests that ultimately, the brands that succeed in the generative era may not simply be those that adopt AI fastest, but those that earn and maintain the trust of the audiences they serve.”

To download the full report, visit: https://www.meltwater.com/en/resources/you-gov-public-perception-ai-generated-content

For more information, please contact:
Stacy Slayden
Communications Manager
[email protected]

About Meltwater
Meltwater empowers companies with a suite of solutions that spans media, social and consumer intelligence. By analyzing ~1 billion pieces of content each day and transforming them into vital insights, Meltwater unlocks the competitive edge needed to drive results. With 27,000 global customers, 50 offices across six continents, and 2,200 employees, Meltwater is the industry partner of choice for global brands making an impact. Learn more at meltwater.com.

About YouGov

YouGov is a global research data and analytics group. Our mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world really thinks and does. With operations in the US, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia Pacific, we have one of the world’s largest research networks.

Above all, YouGov is powered by reality. That stems from a unique panel of millions of registered members across 64 markets, encapsulating some 18 million shopping trips and millions of interconnected data points. Our unique approach to recruiting and engaging with our panel, combined with our state-of-the-art technology platforms, enables us to deliver real-world, real-time insights that lead to better decision-making and a competitive advantage for our clients.

As innovators and pioneers of online market research, we have a strong reputation as a trusted source of accurate data and insights. Testament to this, YouGov data is regularly referenced by the global press, and we are consistently one of the most quoted market research sources in the world.

For further information, visit yougov.com 


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African Union Commission and KAICIID Sign Agreement and Host High-Level Roundtable on Dialogue-Driven Peacebuilding in Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The African Union Commission and the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 20/04/2026, marking a decade of official cooperation and setting the terms for the next phase of joint work on interreligious and intercultural dialogue across the continent.

Marking the occasion, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, underscored the importance of partnership and dialogue for building a peaceful and united Africa.

“The African Union Commission values this partnership as it reinforces our collective efforts to promote mutual understanding, prevent conflict, and strengthen resilience within our societies, in line with Agenda 2063. Dialogue remains central to building a peaceful and united Africa, and this collaboration strengthens our ability to translate that vision into action on the ground,” said H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

On his part, the Acting Secretary General at the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID, Ambassador António de Almeida-Ribeiro, highlighted the need for inclusive dialogue to address peace and security challenges in Africa.  

“Africa's peace and security challenges are not going to be resolved through political frameworks alone. Communities hold trust, religious leaders hold influence. When those actors are equipped and supported, something real changes”, stated Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro. “This partnership with the African Union Commission is built on these tangible outcomes, moving from dialogue as an abstract concept, into real change, taking place on a community level,” added KAICIID's Acting Secretary General.

The roundtable discussion framed on “Fostering a Culture of Transformative Dialogue in the Africa Region,” brought together senior representatives of the AU Commission, as well as representatives from the Member States that integrate KAICIID's Board of Directors and host country, namely Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Portugal, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Nuncio Archbishop Brian Ngozi Udaigwe, representing the Holy See, a founding observer of the International Dialogue Centre, was also present.

Since the first Memorandum of Understanding signing back in 2013, both organisations have revitalized the AU Interfaith Dialogue Forum, which has since convened Nigeria (2016), Chad (2018), Rwanda (2023) and Namibia (2025), creating a structured continental space where religious leaders, policymakers and civil society engage directly on peace and security challenges. 

The formal work between the AU and KAICIID began in 2016, with KAICIID's Africa Programme still operating in the Central African Republic, supporting Local Peace and Reconciliation Committees and interreligious dialogue structures in communities affected by prolonged conflict, in Nigeria, where it worked to reignite the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace on community early warning systems and is supporting interfaith engagement ahead of the 2027 elections and in the North of Mozambique, where it has supported intra-community dialogue in the province of Cabo Delgado.

The renewed MoU stipulates an official framework for KAICIID to work with the AU in direct alignment with Agenda 2063, in particular its aspiration for a peaceful and secure Africa. The roundtable drew in representatives from the Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson (CDCP), Civil Society and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO), Women, Youth and Gender Department (WYGP), Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS), Health Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHSD), as well as Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilization (PRMP), among other key local actors. 

The Addis roundtable comes at a moment when many African societies face overlapping and compounding pressures, from intercommunal tensions, displacement driven by climate stress and conflict, to rising hate speech and the erosion of social trust. The AU-KAICIID commitment reflects not only on the past decade but to set out concrete priority areas where dialogue-based approaches can be more systematically embedded in continental peace and security responses.

-Ends-

About KAICIID
The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID is an intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2012 by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Austria and the Kingdom of Spain, with the Holy See as Founding Observer. KAICIID works to prevent the instrumentalisation of religion to justify violence and to advance interreligious and intercultural dialogue as a practical tool for peace, inclusion and social cohesion. It operates regional programmes across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Arab Region and has trained more than 550 dialogue practitioners through its International Fellows Programme since 2015.

About the African Union Commission
The African Union Commission (AUC) serves as the secretariat of the African Union and is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Union. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Commission supports the implementation of AU decisions and advances continental priorities across peace and security, integration, governance, and sustainable development in line with Agenda 2063.

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