While U.S. business leaders across industries increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) for critical decision-making, a new report from Stibo Systems highlights gaps in literacy, ethical usage, and organizational preparedness.
“AI is transforming business operations by automating processes, delivering actionable insights, and fostering stronger engagement with key stakeholders,” said Gustavo Amorim, Chief Marketing Officer at Stibo Systems. “However, if business leaders go all in on AI without establishing strong ethical and governance frameworks, they may be gambling away with their organization’s future, rather than positioning it for long-term success.”
The “AI: The High-Stakes Gamble for Enterprises” report offers survey insights from 500 U.S. business leaders (director-level and above) across multiple sectors, including retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG), manufacturing, banking, insurance and life sciences.
The survey found that 32% of business leaders admit they have rushed AI adoption, while 58% acknowledge a lack of AI ethics training. Additionally, 86% express a desire for more training on how to responsibly use AI.
Here are some additional key findings from the survey:
- Preparedness concerns: 49% of business leaders admit they are not prepared to use AI responsibly, highlighting the substantial gap in readiness.
- Bias mitigation: 79% of organizations do not have bias mitigation policies and practices in place, indicating that most business leaders are not addressing AI’s most critical ethical challenges.
- Security risks: 54% of organizations have not implemented new security measures to keep up with AI integration.
What types of business decisions does AI help you make?
| Risk Management | 41% |
| Operations | 40% |
| Strategic Planning | 38% |
| Product Development | 35% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 34% |
“Establishing trustworthy data sources, enforcing robust security and ethical policies, and providing comprehensive AI literacy and bias training are essential steps to protect employees, customers, and brand reputation,” commented Amorim. “Without these measures, organizations are rolling the dice, risking financial and reputational damage instead of capitalizing on the innovation and synergies AI can deliver.”
