A new digital health report released by UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) sheds light on how safety standards, certification, and AI governance shape consumer confidence.

The report—informed by surveys of 1,000 U.S. consumers and 84 digital health industry leaders—reveals that most consumers assume digital health products on the market are already safe, highlighting the imperative of standards and certification to sustaining trust and enabling innovation. However, trust doesn’t mean consumers are informed: nearly 80 percent of consumers can’t name a digital health standard.

The report, recently featured during a ULSE-hosted panel at CES, also reveals consumers’ reservations about AI: Only one in five consumers say that are “very comfortable” with AI-driven insights, with others citing concerns about accuracy, consent, and accountability. To that end, executives identified AI governance as the top priority for future standards engagement.

“Digital health tools are increasingly popular in daily life, yet most consumers are not equipped—or don’t feel that they have to consider—the safeguards behind them,” said Jeff Marootian, president and CEO of ULSE. “That dynamic creates an implicit trust contract that places real responsibility on manufacturers. Standards and certification have the power to turn assumed trust into earned trust, allowing innovation to scale responsibly while protecting consumers.”

Access the report, “From Implicit Trust to Strategic Advantage: The Role of Standards in Digital Health,” via ULSE’s press release.