AI Helps Firms with Efficiency, but Most Don’t Trust It to Drive Growth

Why It Matters

Firms that close the AI trust gap can accelerate innovation, personalize offerings, and capture new markets, gaining a decisive edge in today’s volatile business environment.

Key Takeaways

• 63% see AI improving efficiency; only 14% use it for competitive advantage
• Trust gap: 78% expect growth boost, but only 34% trust AI decisions
• 80% say growth environment tougher than last year, driving strategy shifts
• Geopolitical/economic pressures affect 73% of leaders; tech innovation impacts 58%
• EY‑P highlights neuro‑symbolic AI as path to auditable, transparent decisions

Pulse Analysis

Artificial intelligence has become a workhorse for productivity, but its role in driving top‑line growth remains limited. EY‑Parthenon’s survey of 271 senior executives reveals a stark contrast: while nearly two‑thirds credit AI with efficiency gains, fewer than one‑in‑ten leverage it to outpace competitors or tap new customer segments. The gap stems largely from a trust deficit—most leaders anticipate growth acceleration, yet only a third feel comfortable delegating strategic decisions to AI. This mismatch underscores a broader industry challenge: moving AI from a back‑office tool to a core growth engine.

External forces are intensifying the need for a strategic AI shift. Over 70% of respondents cite geopolitical and economic volatility as reshaping their growth outlook, and more than half point to rapid technological innovation as a catalyst for change. EY‑P highlights emerging approaches such as mining internal IP and patent data, enhancing core system intelligence, and adopting neuro‑symbolic AI that blends deep learning with rule‑based transparency. These tactics promise not only faster insight generation but also auditable decision pathways that can alleviate compliance concerns—a top barrier to adoption.

For companies aiming to stay ahead, building AI trust is paramount. Leaders should start with pilot projects that deliver measurable ROI, integrate AI insights into existing governance frameworks, and invest in talent that can interpret and validate model outputs. By demonstrating reliable, compliant outcomes, firms can expand AI’s remit from cost‑saving to revenue‑generating initiatives, positioning themselves as innovators in a market where growth plans are increasingly short‑term and disruption‑driven. The firms that master this transition are likely to capture new markets, personalize offerings at scale, and ultimately define the next wave of competitive advantage.