03/06/2026
IPREX, The Global Communications Network, has launched its “The AI Perception Gap: Global Communications Perspectives” report, created in partnership with media intelligence service provider CARMA.
The report offers insight into how AI is framed in global media coverage, how audiences feel about its impact, and where perception gaps are emerging between public sentiment and organisational behaviour. It is informed by public opinion research with 6,300 respondents in 19 markets, and practitioner insight from IPREX members in 14 markets, together with an analysis of 12,000 media articles across 37 markets.
The report highlights different attitudes to AI across IPREX’s Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. While partners from the Americas report rapid adoption of AI and a focus on its practical use, EMEA partners placed a greater emphasis on regulation, trust and governance. APAC members are chiefly concerned with pragmatism and values, having a more cautious approach to AI adoption.
Ann-Marie O’Sullivan, AM O’Sullivan PR’s Founder and CEO, was quoted in the report, sharing her view that while clients are more eager to adopt AI than the public is ready to accept, they are not yet prepared for the accountability that comes with it.
Key takeaways on what PR professionals can do to navigate the reputational opportunities and risks brought by AI more effectively include:
1️⃣ Move beyond hype and anchor messaging in oversight - Clear communication around governance frameworks, human oversight, and accountability mechanisms is critical.
2️⃣ Address the media & audience trust gap - Communications strategies should proactively address fraud prevention, safety, and election-related safeguards.
3️⃣ Speak directly to generational anxieties - Communications should emphasise empowerment, digital literacy, and human control rather than inevitability.
4️⃣ Reframe AI from inevitability to responsibility - The next phase of AI communications will not be won by scale or valuation headlines, but by demonstrating stewardship, transparency, and long-term societal alignment.
You can download the full report here: https://www.iprex.com/globalstoryofai