As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent across industrial value chains, a new question is coming to the forefront: can organizations trust AI at scale? As AI moves from experimentation into operational use, transparency, traceability, and accountability are becoming essential requirements—especially in regulated industries. Looking ahead to 2026, industrial AI is entering a more demanding phase of maturity. In this context, Leon Lauritsen, CEO of Aras, explains why trust in AI depends on strong data, governance, and context—and why PLM is emerging as a critical foundation for scalable, decision-ready industrial AI.