How a license to lead can transform human potential in an AI world
Realizing the benefits of AI requires leaders to build confidence and agency — not just technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of the way we live and work. The AI Sentiment Index Study, a global survey of over 15,000 people, shows that 82% of respondents had consciously used AI in the past six months. And many will have used or relied on AI without even realizing it. This is not just a technology revolution — it’s a human one. AI is changing what people can achieve.
However, there is an adoption gap — a space between how much people are willing to use AI and how much they actually do. That is caused by concerns around trust, privacy and control, but it’s also about what’s currently available. Better AI tools matter, but it’s equally important to make sure people want to use them, and that they see the value. Closing this gap is a significant opportunity for organizations.
This is where leadership is critical. Organizations that actively create confidence around AI, demonstrate its benefits, and empower people to engage on their own terms will put themselves in the strongest position — not just to implement AI, but to shape its role in business and society.
We call this the “license to lead.” Organizations can earn and grow their license by using AI in ways that align with human needs and expectations, while enhancing human potential rather than diminishing it.
This could be more of a challenge than many leaders imagine. As Laurence Buchanan, EY Global Customer and Growth Leader, says: “While AI is advancing rapidly, trust in many of the organizations hoping to shape its future remains low. Trust in AI is not just about the technology itself — it’s about whether people are confident that organizations will use it in ways that serve them.”
This report explores where adoption gaps exist, what it takes to close them, and how organizations can create a license to lead, so they are best placed to benefit from AI now and to shape its future.
Report (PDF): https://sites.ey.com/:b:/s/EYai/Ec9NwbDD5r9NvyIRoJACzQUBYw2qac5xVLPEwW0NFBtgFA?e=2715m5