Who Trusts the Machines? KPIT’s Perspective from the World Economic Forum

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 in Tianjin, China, Kishor Patil, Co-founder, CEO & MD of KPIT Technologies, joined global leaders to explore one of the most pressing questions in technology today: Who trusts the machines?

The session focused on public trust in AI and autonomous systems, revealing stark regional differences. While 72% of Chinese consumers expressed trust in AI and 90% saw autonomous driving as beneficial, only 32% of U.S. consumers reported trust in AI, with similarly low acceptance in Germany and Japan.

Image: Table showing AI trust levels across China, India, USA, Germany, UK, and Japan.

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Autonomous Vehicles: A Case Study in Trust

Drawing from KPIT’s experience in automotive software and mobility, Kishor Patil used autonomous vehicles as a concrete example of how trust is built—or broken—in the physical world.

Despite technological progress, only 4% of new passenger vehicles by 2035 are expected to feature Level 4 autonomy. The barriers?

• Lack of common industry standards
• Regulatory inertia
• Safety and transparency concerns
• Media narratives that emphasize risk over progress

KPIT’s approach emphasizes explainable AI, region-specific solutions, and collaboration with OEMs to make autonomous systems more accountable and trustworthy.

Responsible Deployment: Beyond AI Guardrails

As AI moves from digital spaces into physical environments, Kishor Patil stressed the need for expanded guardrails. These go beyond traditional cybersecurity and ethics to include:

• Technical safeguards
• Security protocols
• Regulatory frameworks
• Ethical design

He cited real-world incidents—like the Uber pedestrian fatality in 2018—as reminders of the irreversible consequences when AI systems fail in physical contexts.

Localized Innovation, Global Standards

The discussion also highlighted the importance of localized AI models. In regions like India and Southeast Asia, infrastructure challenges such as unpredictable road conditions and driver behavior demand region-specific data and software stacks.

At the same time, global deployment requires standardized safety frameworks and open innovation, much like Volvo’s unpatented seatbelt—a symbol of democratized safety tech.

Collaboration Is Key

Building trust in autonomous systems isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a societal one.
Kishor Patil called for collaboration across:

• Governments and regulators
• Academia and startups
• OEMs and technology enablers

Together, these stakeholders can create robust, scalable, and responsible AI systems that serve diverse global markets.

AI Beyond Mobility

While mobility is one of the first sectors to adopt autonomous systems, Kishor Patil emphasized that confidence in mobility AI will ripple into other industries—from healthcare and banking to defense and education.

Final Thought

As Kishor Patil concluded, the question isn’t just “Who trusts the machines?”—it’s “How do we earn that trust?” Through transparency, collaboration, and responsible innovation, KPIT is helping shape a future where autonomous systems are not only accepted, but embraced.