AiThority Interview with Adriano Koshiyama, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Holistic AI

Adriano Koshiyama, Co-CEO of Holistic AI discusses steps to enhance AI systems, challenges in implementing AI governance, sectors affected by AI advancements, and more in this quick chat.

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Hi Adriano, could you tell us about yourself and the foundational journey of Holistic AI?

I’m the co-founder and co-CEO of Holistic AI, the leading AI governance platform for the enterprise. At Holistic AI, our mission is to empower organizations to adopt and scale AI with confidence.

My background in AI begins in academia. I hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science from University College London (UCL), where I’m also an Honorary Research Fellow. During my doctoral research at UCL, Emre Kazim, my fellow co-founder and co-CEO, was part of the computer science department responsible for developing an interdisciplinary response to the issue of AI ethics. We met and, through interdisciplinary and experimental research we attempted to solve the problem of how we can have trust in AI systems.  Because of how important the problem is, we knew we had to do this in the real world so Holistic AI was born. Aside from working with companies, we continue to collaborate with governmental and other organizations, such as  NIST and the UN AI Advisory Body, as well as commissions with the UK government.

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We founded Holistic AI in early 2020 to make AI trustworthy, effective, and accessible for everyone, from engineers to business leaders and the public. At the time, AI was growing fast, with billions of systems in use worldwide, and we saw a need for a new kind of oversight. We started by building strong partnerships and gathering a team of AI experts who understood the importance of clear communication in solving complex problems. With initial funding in 2021, we brought in engineers, data scientists, and policy experts to help turn our vision into reality. Our first product, launched in 2022, helped companies monitor AI systems and follow new regulations, attracting clients who wanted safe, responsible AI. But as we worked with these clients, we noticed a bigger challenge: many AI projects weren’t meeting their goals and were wasting resources. So, we expanded our platform to go beyond compliance, helping companies make sure their AI projects actually delivered results. Today, Holistic AI is a powerful, flexible solution that helps companies balance the risks and rewards of AI, building a foundation where trust, innovation, and real results come together—a mission that feels more important now than ever.

What is Holistic AI’s core mission in the AI governance landscape, and how does it stand out?

At Holistic AI, our goal is to empower enterprises to accelerate their AI transformation so that they can get more AI use cases over the finish line, and when they do, those use cases are not only safe, but they’re then able to achieve their anticipated ROI. According to Rand Corporation, more than 80% of AI projects fail, primarily due to a lack of cohesive oversight and integration across teams and departments​. AI governance is not a checkbox item. It is a strategic enabler that fosters transparent and collaborative AI oversight. As a result, enterprises achieve improved communication and confidence throughout the entire AI lifecycle, which in turn speeds AI adoption.

What sets Holistic AI apart is our team’s deep expertise and our unique experience in auditing and analyzing countless algorithms across sectors. Our platform is built to be truly end-to-end, covering everything from discovering AI risks to continuously monitoring systems. It’s the most comprehensive solution out there, merging technical precision with a strong focus on social and ethical accountability. We don’t just monitor AI models; we evaluate them for biases, compliance, and impact, especially in high-stakes areas like hiring and healthcare where fairness and transparency are crucial. Unlike other tools that treat algorithms as isolated systems, we embed AI within human-centered applications, ensuring that it not only performs technically but aligns with the ethical and business goals of our clients. We’re also the only platform that automates risk discovery, provides tailored risk mitigation recommendations, and keeps systems up-to-date with the latest regulatory standards.

Why is trust in AI systems increasingly critical, and what steps can the industry take to enhance it?

Trust in AI is essential so that AI can reach its full potential. AI is probably one of the most promising technological advancements any of us will experience in our lifetime and we are only at the very beginning of understanding what is possible. But without trust, AI won’t be able to progress in a way that truly advances society. There are several things we can all do to ensure that trust is established. We can get involved with local governments or standards bodies in the formulation of regulations, frameworks, and guidelines that organizations can follow that help to enforce transparency, eliminate bias, ensure privacy, and support fairness. Then, companies need to build governance as a core part of their AI strategies from the beginning. Whether they choose to follow an established governance framework or develop one of their own, the public needs to know the standards they are committed to following. And finally, they need an auditing and ongoing monitoring function to ensure that they continue to abide by their own values. The Holistic AI Governance Platform can help with all of these processes.

Talk about the top challenges organizations face when implementing AI governance, and how Holistic AI addresses these.

AI transformation comes with inherent challenges that can dramatically slow adoption and stifle innovation. In fact, a recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report reveals that 74% of companies struggle to achieve and scale value from their AI initiatives. Conversely, rushing AI deployments without proper safeguards can expose organizations to operational breakdowns, reputational damage, and financial losses. The lack of robust tools results in wasted time and resources, as teams struggle to balance risk management with speed. This not only delays progress but also leaves companies lagging behind competitors and failing to realize AI’s full potential.

Once a company realizes it needs help addressing AI governance, it needs to be sure it selects a solution that can handle the complexity and scale of AI. Some solutions treat AI as an extension of data, IT, or cloud governance when AI governance is much different. It requires its own unique, distinct approach – one that looks at the entire AI lifecycle and assesses risks that go beyond the remit of a cyber or privacy risk assessment and includes bias, robustness, transparency, efficacy, and explainability.

Holistic AI is purpose-built for AI governance, delivering full visibility and control over all AI projects. It can thoroughly assess technical and regulatory risks while providing actionable insights to minimize exposure and enable faster safer deployments. Additionally, Holistic AI provides standardized reporting for stakeholders, continuous monitoring to dynamically address risks and is able to scale across your business. This comprehensive approach best empowers companies to accelerate AI adoption while safeguarding innovation and compliance.

Which sectors do you believe are most affected by AI advancements, and why?

I think every sector will benefit from AI in one form or another over the next decade. Right now, industries like finance, healthcare, supply chain, and customer service are seeing significant transformations from AI. In finance, AI’s rapid decision-making must align with stringent compliance and security standards, while healthcare applications need reliable oversight to ensure ethical, unbiased patient care. Without purpose-built governance, these sectors face heightened risks, including regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Holistic AI enables these industries to scale AI safely and efficiently by embedding oversight into every stage of the AI lifecycle. Our platform equips these sectors to drive innovation confidently while mitigating risks tied to bias, privacy, and compliance.

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Before we wrap up, what are your top five predictions for how AI will shape the world in the coming years?

• AI Will Power Core Operations Across Industries
  • AI is moving from pilots to essential roles in sectors like HR and finance. Nearly 9 in 10 companies (87%) are piloting or deploying AI, yet most projects take 14 months to reach production and 70% remain stuck in testing​. Companies with purpose-built governance will lead, realizing faster ROI and sustained competitive advantage.
• Governance Will Be a Competitive Advantage
  • Static frameworks can’t keep pace with AI’s demands. According to Gartner, by 2028, companies with AI governance platforms will enjoy 30% higher customer trust and 25% better compliance ratings than competitors. AI governance will differentiate leaders from laggards, ensuring AI projects advance smoothly and ethically.
• End-to-end Governance Will Be Key to AI Project Success
  • Without a unified “single-pane” governance view, more than 80% of AI projects are likely to fail, hindered by fragmented oversight and lack of real-time insights. Companies that adopt an end-to-end governance platform will gain a critical advantage, enabling them to manage risks, streamline compliance, and align AI initiatives with business goals to drive successful outcomes.
• AI-Driven Innovation Will Reshape Workforce Dynamics
  • As AI becomes core to operations, demand will surge for roles in AI governance, ethics, and compliance. According to Gartner, by 2025, 95% of data-driven decisions and 70% of new applications will rely on AI, creating an AI-augmented workforce that combines human insight with automated efficiencies.
• Real-Time Risk Monitoring Will Be Essential
  • For AI to remain aligned with business values, companies must adopt real-time governance to detect and mitigate risks like bias and compliance issues. This approach reduces unmonitored AI costs and addresses governance gaps that could lead to compliance violations​.

These shifts underscore the need for adaptable, forward-thinking AI governance frameworks that empower organizations to innovate responsibly and sustainably.

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