Inanera whereartificialintelligence(AI)systems areincreasinglyembeddedinthe fabric of modern life—from diagnosing complex medical conditions to automating financial decisions and managing public infrastructure—establishing and maintaining public trust has become both a societal and strategic imperative. Despite the transformative potential of AI, trust in these systems remains fragile. As of 2025, global surveys indicate that only 46% of people are willing to trust AI-driven technologies, underscoring a widening confidence gap. This erosion of trust is largely attributed to a combination of high-profile system failures, opaque algorithmic processes, data misuse, and ethical lapses that have drawn scrutiny from policymakers, regulators, and the public alike.