A new report released by global business improvement and standards company BSI finds that 90% of U.S. business leaders say their company encourages the use of AI or has confidence in their ability to successfully harness its benefits. According to the latest update to BSI’s Trust in AI report, which surveyed nearly 1,000 business leaders across nine markets and seven sectors, U.S. leaders regularly ranked near the top of most questions related to AI accountability.
American leaders are seemingly prioritizing systems and structures in AI development, with more than half (54%) of leaders saying their company has an AI strategy in place. And while most business leaders surveyed agreed it’s important to keep up to date with regulations and guidance around AI use and management; the U.S. finds it to be the most important compared to other markets at 69% agreement.
Overall, global engagement with AI is high everywhere, yet there are striking variances around how businesses in different regions are involving employees. Leaders in the U.S. (59%) and Germany (55%) place high importance on involving employees in testing and trialing new AI tools, compared with only 31% in the U.K. and Japan.
A similar picture emerges around transparency; in the U.S., two-thirds of business leaders say it is a high priority to inform employees about AI use, compared to less than a quarter (24%) in Japan and 36% in the Netherlands.
The data paints the picture of a nation of professionals determined to advance AI technology briskly, but ideally without rushing headlong into workplace issues. In fact, most businesses in the U.S. (90%) believe they have a responsibility to promote and support innovation in society, with a strong recognition for the role they must inspire trust in AI in their wider ecosystem.
Companies who are already or planning to leverage AI in their business expect to utilize the technology for operations (74%), marketing (64%), and sales (56%), with the goal of either enhancing or delivering a new standard of customer experience (58%). Concerning internal operations, businesses are utilizing AI primarily in the candidate recruitment process (74%) and to aid in employee performance management (78%).
Most business leaders consider adopting new technologies as a crucial step in maintaining a thriving business and competitive edge, as more than three-fourths (79%) believe insufficient investment in AI would result in a competitive disadvantage. Nearly half of U.S. leaders (45%) expressed they strongly agree with this belief, the highest of nine countries surveyed.
Roughly three-quarters of leaders say AI tools should be embraced even if some jobs change or are lost (76%), highlighting an awareness of, and perhaps some trepidation towards, the changing workforce. In fact, two–thirds of U.S. leaders (65%) agree innovation is more important than protecting existing jobs.
U.S. leaders may also still be lacking some key assets that could help them properly integrate AI into their organizations. Only 38% report having an L&D program to ensure successful delivery of AI training, a board level executive focusing on how AI is being deployed in the business (32%) and a Chief AI executive or equivalent role (13%). While the U.S. is clearly excited for the business opportunities of AI – and many leaders are speaking confidently about their preparedness – there may yet be more work to do before the technology can truly become a force for good.
