INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE
AI ’ s breakneck growth is outpacing governance raising red flags finds NTT Data
Abhijit Dubey , Chief Executive Officer , NTT DATA
N ew research from NTT DATA , a global digital business and IT services provider , reveals that businesses are racing to adopt AI , yet a responsibility gap threatens to undermine progress . More than 80 % of executives acknowledge that leadership , governance , and workforce readiness are failing to keep pace with AI advancements , putting investment , security , and public trust at risk .
The report , The AI Responsibility Gap : Why Leadership is the Missing Link , draws insight from more than 2,300 C-suite leaders and decision-makers across 34 countries , uncovering the urgent need for a leadershipdriven mandate to align AI innovation with ethical responsibility .
“ The enthusiasm for AI is undeniable , but our findings show that innovation without responsibility is a risk multiplier ,” said Abhijit Dubey , Chief Executive Officer , NTT DATA .
“ Organisations need leadership-driven AI governance strategies to close this gap , before progress stalls and trust erodes .” Key findings :
• Innovation vs Responsibility is a Boardroom Battle : The C-suite is divided : One-third of executives believe responsibility matters more than innovation , while another third prioritises innovation over safety ; the remaining third rates them equally .
• Regulatory Uncertainty Stifles Growth : More than 80 % of leaders say unclear government regulations hinder AI investment and implementation , to delayed adoption .
• Security and Ethics Lag Behind AI Ambitions : 89 % of C-suite leaders worry about AI security risks , yet only 24 % of CISOs believe their organisations have a strong framework to balance AI risk and value creation .
The Workforce Is not Ready :
67 % of executives say their employees lack the skills to work effectively with AI , while 72 % admit they do not have an AI policy in place to guide responsible use .
• Sustainability Concerns Emerge : 75 % of leaders say AI ambitions conflict with corporate sustainability goals , forcing organisations to rethink energy-intensive AI solutions . Without decisive action , organisations risk a future where AI advancements outstrip the governance needed to ensure ethical , secure , and effective AI adoption .
Leaders must address :
• Responsible by Design Principles : AI , including GenAI , must be built responsibly from the ground up and endto-end , integrating security , compliance , and transparency into development from day one .
• A Governance Imperative : Leaders must go beyond legal requirements and meet AI ethical and social standards using a systematic approach .
• Workforce Readiness : Organisations must upskill employees to work alongside AI and ensure teams understand AI ’ s risks and opportunities .
• Global Collaboration on AI Policy : Businesses , regulators , and industry leaders must come together to create clearer , actionable AI governance frameworks and establish global AI standards .
“ AI ’ s trajectory is clear , its impact will only grow . But without decisive leadership , we risk a future where innovation outpaces responsibility , creating security gaps , ethical blind spots , and missed opportunities ,” closed Dubey .
“ The business community must act now . By embedding responsibility into AI ’ s foundation , through design , governance , workforce readiness , and ethical frameworks , we unlock AI ’ s full potential while ensuring it serves businesses , employees , and society at large equally .”
NTT DATA commissioned Jigsaw Research to conduct primary research during late September and early October 2024 . •
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS 51 51