WHAT THE DATA SAY: 69% of parents are stressed about their child’s future career

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

AI RESHAPES PARENTING

Parents are rethinking how AI will affect their children’s future careers, according to our Harris Poll research with Intuit Credit Karma.

• 86% of parents agree a different playbook is needed to prepare their children for the future.
• 76% are worried the rules for success will have changed by the time their child enters the workforce.
• 81% say AI has changed the way they think about their child’s future career.
• 69% say thinking about their child’s future career feels more stressful than it used to.
• 89% already have made changes to how they are preparing their child for the future as a result of AI, including encouraging their children to explore subjects like STEM, robotics and math (41%).
• 28% are actively teaching their kids how to use and understand AI tools.
• On the positive side, 75% believe AI will open up career opportunities.

AMERICANS’ COST-OF-LIVING CONCERNS PERSIST

Widespread price increases and worry about household finances remain prominent concerns among Americans, based on our April Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.

• 37% say the country is on the right track – up 2 points from March yet 5 points lower than January 2025.
• 34% say the economy is on the right track – up 2 points from March, yet 4 points lower than January 2025.
• Yet 84% noticed higher grocery/food costs.
• 85% worry that higher gas prices will further raise overall living costs.
• Inflation, the economy and health care remain the nation’s top issues, with 20% now citing the U.S.-Iran conflict as a top concern, too.
• Looking ahead to November, 71% of voters say they are planning to vote in the Congressional midterm elections.

CONSUMERS AREN’T JUST OPEN TO AI IN FINANCE; THEY EXPECT IT

People now see AI as a baseline feature in financial services, but demand empowerment and accountability, according to our Harris Poll–Plaid Spring 2026 State of Intelligent Finance report.

• 55% of Americans say they have used AI for financial tasks in the past 12 months.
• 86% of those users say AI helps them better understand their finances.
• Half say managing money without AI will soon feel outdated – rising to 54% among Gen Z and Millennials.
• 75% say it’s important to know when AI is being used in financial decisions.
• 80% believe companies should reimburse customers for AI-driven mistakes.

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Why Employee Turnover Is A Bigger Business Risk In 2026 (Harris Poll)
• The EV Credibility Problem Just Got Harder to Ignore (Harris Poll)
• Allison’s Marcel Goldstien speaks about AI for small and medium businesses. (The Marketing Cloud / Allison)
• Headed to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity? SPORT BEACH is officially open for registration. (Stagwell)
• Allison Global CEO Wendy Lund chaired Fierce Pharma’s Engage in San Diego, where industry leaders came together to tackle what’s next for healthcare communications. (Allison)