Research Highlights
The Trust Dividend: Why Connected Data Makes AI Decision-Ready for Sustainability.
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By Tensie Whelan
As seen in: World Economic Forum
Every global organization is on a journey with artificial intelligence (AI). As leaders and teams move from being “AI literate” to being “AI fluent,” conversations are no longer just about innovation but about trust, risk and governance.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 identifies adverse outcomes of AI technologies as the risk with the largest rise in perceived severity over time. This risk has moved from number 30 in the two-year outlook to number five in the 10-year outlook. That long-term warning is already showing up as a near-term business challenge.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in reporting, forecasting and enterprise decision-making, the implication is clear: trusted data is one of the strongest defences organizations have against AI risk.
Read the full World Economic Forum article.
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Tensie Whelan is Distinguished Professor of Practice Emerita and Founding Director of the Center for Sustainable Business.