Business ethics in the age of artificial intelligence and big data

Amazon's decision to build its HQ2 in Long Island City – and bring as many as 25,000 jobs to the region – has generated a host of reactions, ranging from elation about what it does for the region's economic development to condemnation and cries of crony capitalism. While those issues are debated, the online retailer's presence presents a tremendous opportunity for business, higher education and political leaders to address the real challenges of the new economy as defined by innovation, entrepreneurship and technological change. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) – that is, machines that can think and learn – analytics, automation and tracking increasingly will be integrated into just about every aspect of business. All of this underscores the importance of re-examining business ethics. We must train the next-generation workforce to understand that ethical leadership and empathy matter.