What are the technologies consumers can’t live without?

KPMG surveyed 1,507 consumers on how they are using 22 tech products today and how they expect to use them in the next year.

KPMG surveyed 1,507 consumers on how they are using 22 tech products today

Consumer trends on the most useful technologies, generative AI, data privacy, sustainability, and social media

We are all massive consumers of technology, every day. KPMG conducted the Consumer Technology Survey to quantify how useful the public at large considers different technologies in their lives. We surveyed 1,507 adult US consumers across all age groups about how they are using 22 different technology products today and how they expect to use them over the next year. We also captured perspectives on generative AI (Gen AI), data privacy, sustainability, and social media.

This report provides meaningful insights for executives to digest, especially leaders at electronics, hardware, semiconductor, cloud, fintech, software, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, media, entertainment, and gaming companies. Key findings include the following:

Consumers rated wireless devices, GPS/directions apps, computers, streaming services, and music apps as the top 5 most indispensable technologies
1 in 4 already view consumer Gen AI products as very useful or indispensable to their lives
42% do not want to consume movies, TV shows, and music if it was created by AI
59% will not download specific apps due to data privacy concerns
51% prefer to use technology products from sustainable companies
84% plan to use social media the same amount or more over the next year