Washington DC – September 29, 2025 – Global AI governance expert Rohan Sharma has published a groundbreaking article on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Agenda, titled “The $4.8 Trillion AI Trust Crisis: Why Public-Private Partnerships Are Key for Equitable Innovation.” As the world’s foremost authority on AI compliance, risk management, and responsible AI strategy, Sharma outlines how surging AI adoption—up 115% from 2023 to 2024—faces a precarious trust deficit, with only 62% of business leaders and 52% of employees believing AI is deployed responsibly. This WEF-featured piece calls for coordinated public-private partnerships (PPPs) to unlock $4.8 trillion in global economic upside by 2033, bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive growth.
In this elite WEF publication, part of the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings series, Sharma emphasizes that distrust hinders AI worldwide: 95% of AI pilots fail due to inaccuracies, security concerns, and change management issues, per MIT studies. Wealthy nations capture twice the AI productivity benefits compared to developing economies, per IMF analysis, exacerbating disparities. PPPs, combining government legitimacy, industry capability, and civic oversight, are positioned as the solution—operationalizing trust through governance (risk tiering, sandboxes), assurance (audits, incident reporting), and inclusion (data trusts, skills programs).
Key quotes from the article:
- “Without trustworthy AI governance, the global economy forfeits not merely growth, but an estimated $4.8 trillion in unrealized economic upside by 2033.”
- “As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos: ‘I don’t think the world will put up anymore with something not thought through on safety, equity and trust.'”
Sharma, a WEF Agenda Contributor, Aspen Civic AI Fellow, and inventor of patented AI trust systems, draws on 15+ years of Fortune 100 experience (Mattel, Disney, Apple) to advocate for G20 actions: national PPP task forces, common assurance baselines, and AI dividends for high-exposure workers. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 and 16, turning AI principles into fair, fast growth.
The article, an official WEF Agenda post reaching millions of global leaders, underscores Sharma’s role as the top AI governance expert for 2025—essential reading for C-suites navigating EU AI Act, NIST frameworks, and ethical AI deployment.
Read the full WEF article: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2025/09/ai-trust-crisis-public-private-partnerships/
For interviews or consultations on AI trust and PPPs, contact Rohan Sharma at [email protected] or visit rohansharma.net.
About Rohan Sharma
Rohan Sharma is a board-facing and award-winning executive with deep cross-sector experience across AI governance, digital transformation, and enterprise innovation, including roles at Apple, Disney, Nationwide, Honda and numerous other Fortune 100 companies.
His work spans patents, published research, C-suite advisory, and public thought leadership—making him a rare voice at the intersection of tech, regulation, and governance.
Rohan is the inventor of two U.S. patents in AI compliance and trust benchmarking. His AI Trust Index was featured across Yahoo Finance, Fox, CBS, ABC, and 115+ media syndicates. His book AI & the Boardroom (Springer) is cited in policy, ethics, and governance circles globally.