Synthetic data is booming – but trust is the real differentiator

As AI systems become more sophisticated, the spotlight has shifted from data quantity to data quality – and increasingly, to data ethics. Synthetic data, with its promise of privacy-preserving scale, is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern AI. But beneath the surface of this innovation lies a deeper truth: trust is the real infrastructure of intelligent systems.

At Syrenis, we see this shift not just as a technical evolution, but as a strategic inflection point.

Jump to:

• Synthetic data is only as strong as its foundations
• Synthetic Data + Consent = Responsible AI
• From privacy obligation to strategic asset
• The rise of Preference-aware AI
• The future belongs to the trust-centric

Synthetic data is only as strong as its foundations

Synthetic data is often praised for its ability to simulate real-world behavior without exposing personal information, but even artificial data has a lineage. The quality, fairness, and reliability of synthetic datasets are shaped by the integrity of the original data – how it was collected, governed, and consented to.

This is where the often-invisible layer of consent and preference management becomes critical. When organizations have a clear, dynamic understanding of what users have agreed to – and how those preferences evolve – they’re not just mitigating risk. They’re building data ecosystems that are resilient, transparent, and future-ready.

Synthetic Data + Consent = Responsible AI

By 2026, it’s expected that 75% of businesses will use generative AI to create synthetic customer data. But synthetic data, while anonymized, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Regulators are increasingly scrutinizing not just the data itself, but the intent and process behind its creation. Without forceful consent frameworks, organizations risk falling short of privacy standards like GDPR, CCPA, and others.

The most forward-thinking businesses are ensuring that synthetic data generation is not only technically sound – but ethically and legally defensible.

From privacy obligation to strategic asset

With increasing regulatory scrutiny and consumer awareness, privacy is no longer a checkbox – it’s a brand promise. Organizations that can demonstrate how data was ethically sourced and aligned with user expectations gain more than compliance , they gain credibility.

For sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail – where customer data is both sensitive and strategic – the ability to simulate behavior without compromising trust will define competitive advantage. But synthetic data alone won’t get us there. It must be paired with systems that respect the origin and intent of the data it mimics.

The rise of Preference-aware AI

AI systems trained on synthetic data still reflect the values of the organizations that build them. When those systems are grounded in transparent, preference-aware data practices, they’re more likely to deliver outcomes that are not only accurate, but aligned with user expectations and societal norms.

This is the next frontier: AI that doesn’t just perform well, but behaves responsibly.

The future belongs to the trust-centric

As synthetic data becomes a staple of AI development, the organizations that lead will be those that treat trust as a design principle, not an afterthought. Consent orchestration, preference management, and data transparency may not be visible in the final product – but they are the platform that makes innovation sustainable.