Amer Iqbal Comments on AI Transparency and Investor Expectations in Financial Times

Amer Iqbal, innovation consultant and former director of digital strategy at Deloitte, was featured in the Financial Times’ Agenda Week, offering expert insight on the evolving expectations of investors around artificial intelligence (AI) transparency. The article, “Investors Reach ‘Inflection Point’ on AI Transparency” by Anna Bianca Roach, explores how boards and executives are navigating regulatory and investor pressures on AI ethics and accountability.

In the piece, Amer highlighted the growing complexity of global AI governance. “We’re at an interesting inflection point where the political and business environment in the U.S. and EU have swung to opposite sides of the pendulum,” he said. He emphasized the practical challenge for U.S. companies operating in European markets: “They will essentially have to operate two differing versions of their ethical standards to suit each market. It’s not an ideal long-term solution, and it is costly in the short term.”

Looking ahead, Amer advised boards to proactively develop global principles for AI ethics based on transparency and accountability, while allowing flexibility for local regulations. “It’s smarter to design for this future now and allow flexibility to localize as needed,” he said. He also stressed the importance of clear communication with shareholders: “Proactively communicating a global set of principles is a great way to reassure shareholders that the board is considering the issue seriously and there is a plan in place that is suited to all political eventualities.”

Amer’s commentary underscores the critical role of leadership in aligning corporate strategy with emerging AI regulations and investor expectations, bridging the gap between innovation and governance.

Read the full article on Agenda Week here.