February 13, 2025 – A new study from NTT DATA Inc. underscores a critical gap between AI’s rapid development and the governance structures needed to manage it. The report reveals that while businesses are eager to adopt AI, a lack of leadership and strategic oversight threatens to undermine progress and increase risks. According to the research, 81% of executives acknowledge that leadership, governance, and workforce readiness are failing to keep pace with AI’s growth, jeopardizing investments, security, and public trust.
The report, titled The AI Responsibility Gap: Why Leadership is the Missing Link, surveyed over 2,300 C-suite executives across 34 countries. It calls for a leadership-driven approach to align AI innovation with ethical responsibility.
Key Insights from the Report:
- AI Innovation vs. Responsibility in the Boardroom – There is a divide in executive views: about one-third prioritize responsibility over innovation, another third focus on innovation at the cost of safety, and the remaining third balance both equally.
- Regulatory Uncertainty Hampers Growth – More than 80% of leaders report that unclear regulations are slowing AI adoption and investments, creating roadblocks for progress.
- Security and Ethical Risks – While 89% of executives are concerned about AI security risks, only 24% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) feel their organizations have a strong enough framework to balance AI risks and rewards.
- Workforce Preparedness – 67% of executives say their teams lack the necessary skills to work effectively with AI, and 72% admit they don’t have a clear policy to guide AI usage responsibly.
- Sustainability Challenges – 75% of leaders believe AI initiatives conflict with their corporate sustainability goals, prompting a reevaluation of energy-intensive AI solutions.
Closing the AI Responsibility Gap: A Leadership Mandate
The report stresses that without urgent leadership action, AI innovation could surpass the ethical, security, and governance frameworks needed to ensure its responsible use. Key areas for improvement include:
- Responsible by Design: AI should be developed with security, compliance, and transparency at its core from day one.
- Governance Standards: Leaders must go beyond legal requirements to meet ethical AI standards, adopting a systematic, responsible approach.
- Workforce Readiness: Companies must invest in upskilling their workforce to understand both the potential and risks of AI.
- Global Collaboration: Businesses, governments, and industry leaders must collaborate to establish clear and actionable AI governance frameworks.
NTT DATA’s CEO, Abhijit Dubey, concluded, “AI’s future is clear—it will have a massive impact, but without decisive leadership, we risk a future where innovation outpaces responsibility. Leaders must act now to integrate responsibility into AI’s development, ensuring that it benefits businesses, employees, and society.”
