Strengthening the AI Assurance Ecosystem

https://partnershiponai.org/resource/strengthening-the-ai-assurance-ecosystem/

Publish Date: 2026-02-18 21:09:16

Accelerated AI Adoption Is Outpacing Trust

A 2025 survey reveals that only 17% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on the US over the next 20 years, indicating a significant trust deficit. Businesses also lack confidence in their AI systems’ compliance with laws and internal policies, highlighting an impending issue that could hinder public confidence and innovation. To address this, AI assurance—a process aimed at measuring, evaluating, and communicating AI systems’ trustworthiness—is seen as a potential solution. Through effective application, AI assurance can help organizations to innovate responsibly, enhancing accountability, consumer trust, and reducing associated risks. However, despite existing efforts, a robust, multi-stakeholder ecosystem for AI assurance remains underdeveloped and fragmented. To foster this ecosystem, PAI’s white paper, Strengthening the AI Assurance Ecosystem, proposes a roadmap of essential elements for building trust, including norms, frameworks, standards, processes, and skilled assurance providers.

Key Points:

Only 17% of Americans expect AI to have a positive impact in the next 20 years.
Businesses lack confidence that their AI systems comply with laws and internal policies.
AI assurance is proposed as a solution to build trust and promote responsible innovation.
A robust, multi-stakeholder ecosystem for AI assurance is needed but remains incomplete.
PAI’s white paper suggests foundational elements and recommendations for investment, collaboration, and ensuring justified trust in AI.