Trust Before Tech: How Leaders Can Build Confidence in AI Before the Trust Gap Slows Innovation

AI is advancing at an extraordinary pace but public confidence isn’t keeping up. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer shows that while organizations are accelerating AI adoption, employees, customers, and communities remain deeply uncertain about how these technologies will affect jobs, privacy, and decision-making.

Many organizations are approaching AI primarily as a technology rollout—focusing on tools, automation, and productivity gains. But leaders are discovering that successful adoption depends less on the technology itself and more on the trust surrounding it. Without transparency, governance, and clear communication, even promising AI initiatives can face resistance or stall before they deliver meaningful value.

In this interactive workshop, we will explore the four pillars of trusted AI: transparency, proactive governance, demonstrated impact, and public engagement and how leaders can apply them to guide responsible AI adoption. Participants will examine why trust gaps persist, how to communicate AI’s benefits without minimizing its risks, and what it means to shift from viewing AI as automation to positioning it as augmentation that strengthens people and organizations.

Through facilitated discussion and real-world examples, leaders will gain a clearer understanding of how trust shapes AI adoption and what practical steps organizations can take to build confidence among employees, customers, and the broader community.

This session is designed for business executives, technology leaders, HR and workforce leaders, public sector officials, and innovation leaders across New Hampshire who are navigating the opportunities and responsibilities of AI adoption. Participants will leave with practical insights to help their organizations move forward with AI in ways that are responsible, transparent, and worthy of trust, while contributing to a broader culture of ethical innovation across the state.