Leadership, responsibility, training: what is needed for AI development in the company
A survey reveals that 80% of managers recognise the need for a clear mandate to align technological innovation with ethical responsibility. Lack of employee skills and regulatory uncertainty are further obstacles to be addressed
3' min read
3' min read
An accountability gap threatens to slow down the development and spread ofartificial intelligence: if this is not an alarm, it is a close call, as more than 80 per cent of managers recognise that leadership, governance and the preparedness of their organisation's employees are failing to keep pace with the progress of algorithm technology, putting investment, security and user trust at risk. This is according to recent research ("AI Responsibility Gap: Why Leadership is the Missing Link"), conducted on an international scale last autumn by Jigsaw Research on behalf of Ntt Data on a sample of 2,300 senior figures with authority or direct influence over purchasing decisions for generative AI solutions.
The report, reads the research released by the Japanese multinational consultancy, highlights the urgent need for a clear mandate to align the innovation promised by artificial intelligence with the ethical responsibility that should mark its adoption, an alignment that is reflected in a demand for clearer leadership capable of properly balancing these two components. "The enthusiasm for AI," stressed Abhijit Dubey, CEO of Ntt Data, in this regard, "is undeniable but the results of our research show that innovation without accountability is a risk multiplier. Organisations need technology governance strategies led by top management to bridge this gap, before progress stalls and trust erodes'.
The indications emerging from the study, in fact, confirm how this 'split' creates divisions in the boards of directors and within the C-Suite: one third of the managers believe that responsibility is more important than innovation, while another third prioritise innovation over safety, with the remaining third valuing the two components equally. Another factor that risks inhibiting the growth process is uncertainty in regulations. The overwhelming majority of business leaders (over 80 per cent) state in this regard that unclear regulations are an obstacle to investment and implementation of artificial intelligence solutions, delaying their adoption and application. Even more evident is C-level fear about the discrepancy between the current level of AI security and its ambitions: 89 per cent of managers admit to being concerned about the risks associated with this lack and only 24 per cent of CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) believe their organisations have a solid operational plan to balance these risks and value creation.
Another 'hot' topic when it comes to AI governance is the unpreparedness of the workforce. In this regard, 67 per cent of the managers surveyed state that their employees lack the skills to use artificial intelligence effectively, while 72 per cent admit to having no policy on the responsible use of the technology. Last but not least, there is also the question of the real sustainability of generative models. Seventy-five per cent of the sample of managers interviewed, specifically, state that the opportunities promised by artificial intelligence conflict with corporate sustainability goals, forcing organisations to reconsider more energy-intensive AI solutions.
