Firms with trusted AI practices report stronger returns, study finds
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Organisations that implement stronger AI governance, data quality and auditability are far more likely to see high returns on AI investments, a SAS and IDC study shows. The second‑annual Data and AI Impact Report, titled “The New Economics of Trust,” found firms practising trustworthy AI were 15 times more likely to report strong or high ROI and delivered at least double the ROI of peers. However, such firms represent a small market segment, with fewer than one in 20 laggards achieving similar returns. The report notes that 97.2 % of users override AI recommendations at least occasionally, mainly because the system cannot explain its reasoning. Lack of explainability erodes confidence, especially as AI becomes more autonomous, threatening productivity and profitability overall.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Demonstrating that trust mechanisms directly translate into financial performance gives executives a concrete incentive to prioritize AI oversight, turning ethical compliance into a competitive lever.