Artificial Intelligence (AI), defined as "a system's ability to interpret external data correctly, to learn from such data, and to use those learnings to achieve specific goals and tasks through flexible adaptation" (Kaplan and Haenlein 2019, p. 17), is one of the most popular topics across a variety of academic disciplines, industry sectors, and business functions, and widely influences society at large. While many will first think of computational, organizational, or technological issues related to AI, there is an entire set of ethical dimensions triggered by this new era which urgently need to be analyzed, discussed, and reflected upon. As pointed out by Martin and Freeman (2004, p. 353) "business ethicists are uniquely positioned to analyze the relationship between business, technology, and society". There are many examples where inappropriate use of AI has resulted in unethical outcomes and behavior. Examples include image recognition services which make offensive classifications of minorities due to biased algorithms; Microsoft's AI chatbot Tay which became racist and adopted hate speech after only one day; and Amazon's facial recognition technology which simply failed to recognize users with darker skin colors.

Whether we like it or not, technological advances are reshaping the way companies do business. Artificial intelligence, which involves the processing of huge amounts of data by machine, is becoming more and more commonplace, creating both opportunity on a grand scale and a daunting level of risk. Because boardrooms are the place where opportunity and risk are assessed and judgements made, technology is now on the governance agenda. Directors who have shied away from tackling the subject in the past have less and less excuse for ignoring it, but the question is: where and how to begin? At the Institute of Business Ethics we have been trying to work out some of the answers to the complex questions posed by the increasing use of AI.

Ethical Is The New Black. I am an Associate Professor of Business Ethics at The Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University.

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.

In the race to adopt rapidly developing technologies, organisations run the risk of overlooking potential ethical implications. And that could produce unwelcome results, especially in artificial intelligence (AI) systems that employ machine learning. Machine learning is a subset of AI in which computer systems are taught to learn on their own. Algorithms allow the computer to analyse data to detect patterns and gain knowledge or abilities without having to be specifically programmed. It is this type of technology that empowers voice-enabled assistants such as Apple's Siri or the Google Assistant, among myriad other uses.

Noise surrounding the corporate use of data for potentially unethical purposes has increased by dozens of decibels in recent weeks. During the summer, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) hosted a symposium, during which consumer vulnerability was discussed, highlighting concerns that older people, or those with mental health issues, or workers on low incomes, face disadvantages in dealing with product and service providers in an increasingly digital world. These types of customers may stay with service providers longer and struggle to shop around, paying what has become known as the "loyalty penalty". While the use of third parties--especially websites--to help customers find better deals has opened up the banking and energy sectors, CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli recently suggested that principles-based regulation may have a "potential role" in managing the welter of customer information that businesses have--with principles set against abusing that data. Two days after Coscelli's comments, the CMA announced it would investigate a "super complaint" by Citizens Advice about loyalty penalties.

Industry 4.0 with the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence (including Machine and Deep Learning) started to interrupt today's reality, including the way we conduct business. It was a pleasure to take a look into the near future and predict the coming changes. The book was not the destination, but the start of the journey, as I had the honor to discuss the different topics with acknowledged experts and receive priceless feedback. Artificial Intelligence, chat-bots & robots, 3D printing, micro-learnings, virtual & augmented reality, self-driving cars and all other autonomous software & machines will be a part of tomorrow's business. We have to start thinking about the consequences. A chance and challenge for management, where the Ethics&Compliance-department can position itself as a key-player and include AI inside its responsibilities.

So, hands up who was woken up by Alexa this morning? Or now has Google Home finding their favourite radio station for them? Or had fun over the holidays trying to get Siri to tell them a joke? Artificial intelligence is now more accessible and becoming mainstream. The rapid development and evolution of AI technologies, while unleashing opportunities for business and communities across the world, have prompted a number of important overarching questions that go beyond the walls of academia and hi-tech research centres in Silicon Valley. Governments, business and the public alike are demanding more accountability in the way AI technologies are used, and are trying to find a solution to the legal and ethical issues that will derive from the growing integration of AI in people's daily lives.

"ACCESS GRANTED – Tomorrow's Business Ethics" is science fiction in its literally sense. The book analyzes actual and future technological developments to discuss how these will affect tomorrow's business reality and its impact on the human. It is clear that robotization and the implementation of Artificial Intelligence will change companies and societies. This does not mean automatically a shift for the better or worse, but life will be different, and it is in our hands to use technology for the first. Artificial Intelligence, robots, 3D printing, micro-learnings, virtual reality, self-driving cars and all other autonomous software and machines will be a part of tomorrow's business. We have to start thinking about the consequences.