Their anonymized responses have been summarized in a report on some successful AI governance and corporate sustainability strategies

Based on Jan 2024 anonymized online survey^ of around 800 senior executives across 11 industries and 15 countries* on their enterprises’ progress towards corporate and organizational sustainability transformation, particularly in their use of AI, the following trends were discerned.

First, more than half of the respondents recognized that responding to the rapid advance of AI will be crucial for future business success, indicating that they were strengthening their AI initiatives. Some 80% aimed to use AI for complex decision-making, including the enhancement of product and service functions and management decision support, both previously difficult to achieve with AI.

Second, 75% of respondents indicated believing that collaboration between people and AI will progress, changing business processes significantly. They believed that employees will need to develop new skills that complement AI, such as critical thinking, correct goal setting, and applying sense-making to ensure activities serve the right purpose, enabling them to leverage AI to unleash their creativity.

Other findings

Third, around 40% of respondents indicated they had not yet developed an organization-wide AI strategy; 12% indicated having committed resource allocation for the use of AI via organization-wide AI strategy and guidelines.

Finally, about 60% of respondents indicated their belief that increased use of AI will contribute to driving digital transformation and tackling societal challenges.

Based on the survey data, the firm that commissioned the survey, Fujitsu, has concluded that the following factors were guiding respondents in successfully implementing sustainability transformation.

  1. The use of AI to expand their workforce’s skills and improve their well-being
  2. The formulation and implementation of an AI strategy and guidelines to maximize the potential of the technology
  3. The use of AI to respond to sustainability challenges
  4. The strengthening of organizational capabilities to engage in sustainability as business opportunities
  5. The building of ecosystems oriented towards sustainability

The survey report notes that business and society are undergoing enormous changes due to the rapid advances of digital technologies, and that responding to sustainability issues such as geopolitical tensions and climate change remains a crucial management challenge.

*CxOs from firms with at least 500 employees and annual revenue exceeding US$100m (one response per company) from Japan (25%), the USA (16%), Canada (9%), the UK (5%), Finland (5%), Germany (5%), Spain (5%), France (5%), the Philippines (4%), Australia (4%), Singapore (4%), China (4%), Korea (4%), New Zealdn (3%), Thailand (3%) in the following industries: wholesale and retail (9%); consumer products (9%); transportation (8%); manufacturing (8%), food and beverage (8%); healthcare (8%); electronics (8%); financial services (8%); energy and/or utilities (8%), telecom services (7%); chemicals and/or metals (7%); insurance (7%); government (3%) and public sector (3%)

^including interviews of 12 respondents