AI Tech Stalls Billings Student Polling Efforts

Students at Montana State University Billings report that automated call screening is hindering traditional survey work.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Language Learning

AI Tech Stalls Billings Student Polling Efforts

Live Poll

Do you trust AI call screening to block spam without unfairly filtering important incoming calls?

During the fall 2026 semester, students conducting the annual Mountain State Poll faced significant challenges due to AI call screening and spam blocking technology. These tools have made it increasingly difficult for student researchers to reach residents over the phone.

Why it matters

The rise of automated call filtering technology has drastically reduced the likelihood of individuals answering legitimate research calls, threatening the reliability of traditional telephone survey methods.

Students at MSU Billings averaged just one completed survey per hour this year, a rate that is half of the historical average for the 39-year-old Mountain State Poll. Approximately one in 10 people currently answer calls labeled with spam warnings.

The players

Dr. Hope Dewell Gentry

She is a researcher overseeing the transition to alternative survey methods to maintain the validity of academic polling.

Montana State University Billings

This institution is a public university in Billings, Montana, that has managed the Mountain State Poll for nearly four decades.

The details

AI systems now act as barriers between callers and recipients, while call-blocking software frequently mislabels academic research calls as potential spam. As a result, the poll organizers are pivoting toward online and mail-based survey methods to ensure scientific validity.

1997: Gallup and Pew recorded high telephone response rates.
2017: Gallup telephone response rate fell to 7%.
2018: Pew Research Center response rate fell to 6%.
2026: MSU Billings students conducted the Mountain State Poll.

Culture Shift

The shift away from traditional phone surveys mirrors the long-term trend of declining participation in telephone research as documented by the Pew Research Center. This evolution forces academic institutions to move toward digital-first engagement strategies to reach a modern audience.

Residents in Billings may find it easier to avoid unwanted solicitations, but this also means they are less likely to be reached for legitimate academic or community-based research. Local households should be aware that important surveys may now arrive via mail or online portals rather than telephone.

The takeaway

As technology evolves, traditional methods of gauging public opinion require significant updates to remain effective. Researchers are finding that diversifying communication channels is now essential for gathering accurate data in an era of automated screening.