Using blockchain technology to build consumer trust in AI

The trust challenge: Public skepticism towards AI remains high, with Pew Research indicating 52% of Americans express more concern than excitement about AI’s role in daily life.

• Only 10% of Americans report being more excited than concerned about AI’s integration into everyday activities
• AI’s reputation as a “black box” that can reflect and amplify human biases has contributed to widespread mistrust
• The technology’s impact on daily decisions across industries has intensified scrutiny of AI systems

Blockchain solution implementation: FICO has pioneered a private blockchain system that creates an immutable record of AI model development and deployment.

• The system automates documentation and enforces standards throughout the model development process
• Implementation has resulted in over 90% reduction in support issues and model recalls
• The blockchain creates a transparent, verifiable trail of AI model development decisions and changes

Key implementation lessons: Success required focusing on human factors alongside technical considerations.

• Standards development needed to precede technical implementation
• User-friendly interface design proved crucial for adoption
• An iterative approach focusing on quick wins helped build momentum
• Special storage solutions were required for large AI assets
• Dedicated IT teams were essential for system maintenance

Technical infrastructure considerations: The solution required specific architectural decisions to handle the unique challenges of AI model documentation.

• Separate repositories were developed to store large AI assets
• The system needed to balance transparency with the practical limitations of blockchain storage
• Integration with existing IT infrastructure required careful planning and dedicated resources

Strategic impact: Building trust through blockchain-based accountability represents a potential pathway for addressing AI skepticism while improving operational efficiency.

The success of FICO’s approach suggests that technical solutions to AI transparency must be coupled with thoughtful implementation strategies that prioritize human factors and practical usability. As organizations continue to deploy AI systems, similar accountability frameworks may become industry standard practice for building and maintaining public trust.