Trust Issues? KPMG Unpacks the AI Confidence Gap

Pushing Past the AI Trust Deficit

In an increasingly AI-driven world, skepticism still looms large among both businesses and consumers. In a recent interview, Leanne Allen, Head of AI at KPMG UK, addressed the ongoing “trust gap” in artificial intelligence, highlighting that while the benefits of AI are well-recognized, confidence lags behind. Allen emphasized that transparency, accountability, and robust governance are crucial pillars to cultivating AI trustworthiness. She noted that simply developing AI tools isn’t enough—proving their fairness, safety, and reliability is what will ultimately drive adoption and value.

Bridging Compliance and Innovation

According to Allen, the key to closing the trust gap isn’t just about ethical intention—it’s about embedding regulatory alignment into AI design from the outset. She underscored the importance of developing explainable AI models that not only comply with legislation like the EU AI Act but also make decision-making processes clear to stakeholders. At KPMG, they’re advocating a “responsible-by-design” approach, integrating ethical considerations from ideation to deployment. This, Allen asserts, is how businesses can responsibly scale up AI while earning the trust of users and regulators alike.

Culture, Skills, and the Human Factor

Beyond the tech, Allen points to organizational culture and talent as critical enablers for trustworthy AI. She argues that companies need to upskill their workforce to understand the implications and limitations of AI, ensuring that human oversight remains a core component. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration—blending data science, legal, and ethics expertise—firms can better anticipate risks and steer AI projects in a responsible direction. Building trust, she insists, isn’t purely a technological challenge—it’s a cultural one too.