AI-Generated Communication Risks Corporate Trust: Expleo Study
- More than one-third of German business leaders would trust a company less if its external communications were generated entirely by artificial intelligence, according to survey findings released in...
- According to the 13th wave of the Expleo AI Pulse survey, published by technology and consultancy firm Expleo, 36 percent of surveyed German executives stated they would lose...
- Künstliche Intelligenz kann Werbung, Marketingmaterialien und jegliche Unternehmenskommunikation schneller und teils kostengünstiger erstellen.
More than one-third of German business leaders would trust a company less if its external communications were generated entirely by artificial intelligence, according to survey findings released in September 2026. The data highlights a distinct skepticism toward fully automated marketing and corporate messaging, contrasting sharply with positive executive views on operational speed and cost efficiency.
Executive Attitudes and the Trust Deficit in AI Communications
According to the 13th wave of the Expleo AI Pulse survey, published by technology and consultancy firm Expleo, 36 percent of surveyed German executives stated they would lose trust in an enterprise relying entirely on artificial intelligence for its public messaging. By contrast, only 22 percent reported that fully automated communications would increase their confidence, while 39 percent said it would make no difference.
Dr. Yusuf Erdogan, Country Lead Digital & Technology at Expleo Deutschland, noted that while artificial intelligence can produce marketing materials and corporate announcements more rapidly and economically, removing human oversight carries heavy risks.
Künstliche Intelligenz kann Werbung, Marketingmaterialien und jegliche Unternehmenskommunikation schneller und teils kostengünstiger erstellen. Werden Menschen dagegen gänzlich aus dem Ablauf ausgeschlossen, kann dies für Firmen teuer zu stehen kommen – insbesondere hinsichtlich der Glaubwürdigkeit.
Dr. Yusuf Erdogan, Expleo Deutschland
Erdogan added that speed must be balanced with clear personal accountability.
Sobald ein Unternehmen nach außen kommuniziert, zählt nicht nur Tempo, sondern auch, wer am Ende dafür geradesteht. Maßgeblich ist dabei nicht der bloße Einsatz von KI, sondern die bewusste Absicherung, dass menschliche Verantwortung während des gesamten Prozesses verankert bleibt.
Dr. Yusuf Erdogan, Expleo Deutschland
Hierarchy Gaps Across Corporate Management Levels
The study reveals a marked divergence in perception depending on corporate hierarchy. Across the broader European sample, company owners and proprietors proved most receptive to automated messaging. Among business owners, 45 percent reported increased trust in fully AI-generated corporate communications, whereas 27 percent experienced a drop in trust.
The sentiment reverses drastically lower down the corporate ladder. Within junior management ranks, only 19 percent indicated higher trust in fully automated text, while 47 percent reported decreased trust. A comparable hierarchical gap emerged during May polling regarding artificial intelligence governance. At that time, 85 percent of company owners believed they could demonstrate responsible oversight following an AI-related incident, compared to just 53 percent of junior managers.
According to Erdogan, these discrepancies point to operational visibility differences within organizations, noting that operational teams frequently confront risks that senior managers overlook.
Germany Ranks Safely Behind Neighbors in AI Sentiment Index
The trust findings arrive alongside the broader European AI Pulse Index, which climbed two points in the September 2026 survey wave to reach 66 points. Index scores exceeding 60 generally denote healthy corporate optimism.
Within the country-by-country breakdown, Germany registered 64 points, placing it slightly behind regional peers such as Ireland at 68 points, France at 66 points, and Great Britain at 65 points. While German businesses remain fundamentally optimistic about adopting new technologies, the figures show a more cautious stance regarding fully automated workflows compared to neighboring markets.
The Expleo AI Pulse survey has tracked monthly sentiment across Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, and France since August 2025, charting how standard business operations adapt as artificial intelligence tools integrate further into daily corporate routines.
