Kieran Harding
Acting Chief Executive, Business in the Community
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly central to many workplace strategies, but to fully adopt AI responsibly, businesses must transform their workplaces and ways of working.
AI is constantly transforming the way we work, and workplaces are becoming more reliant on it. AI is taking on a central role in many business operations, from helping with time-consuming administrative tasks to improving customer service or transforming business operations.
While it can make our working lives easier, AI also comes with risks for businesses and society.
Benefits and risks of AI
Responsible AI use can help workplaces foster innovation, helping business operations be more inclusive and sustainable. It can also help businesses increase efficiency, productivity and consistency.
However, AI can also come with challenges, like inequality and bias, negative environmental impact and the risk of widening the digital divide. Reliable human oversight is essential to ensure these are mitigated.
Businesses need to ensure that AI supports their employees, respects their rights and strengthens society.
Role of businesses
As AI changes the workplace, businesses need to think responsibly and ethically. While three-quarters of CEOs believe adopting new technologies, including AI, is one of their biggest challenges,1 four in 10 want to understand regulation surrounding AI and over a third care about the ethics associated with AI.2
Businesses need to ensure that AI supports their employees, respects their rights and strengthens society. Assessing the impacts of AI, embedding accountability, upskilling across job levels and strengthening cybersecurity can help organisations ensure their AI use is responsible.
As AI use increases, organisations must ensure clear governance around how it is embedded into business strategy. The case is clear: AI is now a central part of many businesses’ everyday work, and workplaces need to transform to ensure that they can embed it ethically and responsibly into their operations. This is no longer just a technical issue; it’s a strategic business imperative.
[1] Business in the Community. (2025). State of the Nation Report 2025 – Business in the Community.
[2] Public Policy and Social Insights team. (2024). Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: August 2024. ONS.
