AI and ESG – at first glance, these terms seem to come from two different worlds. Artificial intelligence (“AI”) stands for innovation, technology, and efficiency. Social sustainability is part of the ESG (“Environmental, Social, Governance”) initiative, which stands for value orientation, fairness, and social responsibility. However, the connection between these two topics is becoming increasingly important for companies – because the successful introduction of AI requires a trusting corporate culture based on social sustainability.
According to a recent poll, three-quarters of people in the US believe that AI will threaten jobs. At the same time, 77% of adults do not trust companies when it comes to the responsible use of AI.[1] This shows that building trust is crucial, if artificial intelligence is to become a success factor.
Trust is the basis for transformation
The responsibility for dispelling these fears and reaping the benefits of AI implementation lies primarily with managers.
Successful leadership in the age of AI means creating a framework that focuses on empowerment rather than control. Guiding principles are needed that provide orientation but leave enough room for experimentation. The classic command and control management model has had its day. It is being replaced by a new leadership approach: explore and automate:
- Explore: Managers create a framework in which employees are encouraged to try out new technologies, rethink working methods and offerings, test hypotheses – and learn continuously in the process. They are explorers, not administrators.
- Automate: Once a process or application has proven its value, AI can be used under professional control to scale this success very quickly, efficiently, and securely within the company.
This type of leadership is not only a task for individual managers, but a skill of the entire organization. It requires the close cooperation of HR, IT, the operational teams, and management.
AI training boosts social sustainability confidence
For the AI transformation to succeed, employees also need to build up more knowledge. And this is precisely the focus of the ESG initiative in the ESRS S1 “Own Workforce” area. When companies educate employees about the opportunities and risks of AI, confidence in ESG-related corporate decisions also increases significantly, especially regarding the “S” (=social sustainability) in the ESG context.
Employees who have received targeted training in the use of AI have greater confidence in their company’s ESG goals:
- They are 40% more likely to believe that their company’s business decisions benefit society.
- In addition, 45% more of them say that these decisions also benefit the environment.
- And 32% more say that their company’s decisions improve the well-being of the community.
Targeted AI training therefore not only strengthens skills, but also trust – and thus the foundation for credible and authentic ESG initiatives.
Artificial intelligence and ESG require trust – and participation
In 2025, many employees feel that artificial intelligence is beyond their scope of use. Only one in three employees worldwide say that their company communicates the benefits and risks of AI at all. The more employees are involved, the more companies benefit – not only in terms of ESG, but also in terms of innovation and economic growth.
When more people can contribute to innovation, they feel their work is meaningful – and want to stay longer with their employer.
More participation = more growth
Companies with high innovation participation achieve 5.5 times more revenue growth than those with low participation. In addition, these companies demonstrate particularly strong social sustainability performance (ESG score: 1.24 times better than average), as research with the international rating agency CRIF shows.[2]
This clearly shows that enabling innovation leads to a socially sustainable transformation toward AI implementation – for all employees.
How can this be achieved in companies?
1. Create transparency:
Openly explain how AI is used in the company – and how it helps employees.
2. Offer training:
Explain the opportunities and risks of AI. Those who understand how AI works develop trust and competence.
3. Enable participation:
Give your employees the opportunity to actively shape AI – e.g. through hackathons, idea workshops, or innovation sprints.
4. Create psychological safety:
Give your employees, including your managers, a safe space to talk openly about their experiences, concerns, and mistakes when introducing and using AI.
5. Link AI to your own values and visions:
Clearly connect your use of artificial intelligence to your values. This is how technology leads to real transformation.
AI and ESG: A winning duo for the future
AI and ESG are not opposites – on the contrary, they complement each other. With the right strategy and a trust-based corporate culture, AI becomes an enabler for sustainable development.
Companies that invest in trust, transparency, and training today not only secure a place in technological change, but also in the hearts of their employees – and thus long-term corporate success, in line with the ESG initiative “Who Cares Wins”.[3]
