Phillippa Lennox-King
Head of Responsible Business & Strategy, Business in the Community
AI is rapidly transforming the business landscape, yet over half of CEOs identify new technologies or generative AI as one of their three greatest workplace challenges.1
Artificial intelligence offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance sustainability and responsible practices. However, it also presents significant challenges that organisations must navigate carefully.
Opportunities presented through AI use
AI can help eliminate unconscious bias in recruitment and career development by analysing resumes without gender or racial prejudices and supporting personal development plans. In agriculture, AI reduces waste by aiding in efficient resource utilisation. In energy sectors, it helps balance grids and predict demand, leading to optimised energy consumption and lower carbon footprints.In healthcare, AI assists with diagnosis and treatment recommendations, analysing extensive genetic and biological data to accelerate the development of new medicines and vaccines and improve patient outcomes.2
AI reduces waste by aiding in
efficient resource utilisation.
Risks of irresponsible AI use
- Bias and inequality: If not designed responsibly, AI systems can perpetuate existing biases, reflecting historical inequalities. Businesses must use diverse, high-quality datasets, conduct regular audits and maintain human oversight by diverse stakeholders to effectively mitigate this risk.
- Environmental impact: Data centres account for 0.5% of combustion emissions, which could increase by up to 80% by 2030.3 A single search on a generative AI platform uses around 10 times more energy than a Google search.4
- Workforce displacement: The rise of automation and AI-driven systems could lead to job displacement, social isolation and increased inequality. Companies need to focus on creating AI applications that prioritise workers’ wellbeing, including upskilling programmes to narrow the digital divide.
The path forward
To harness AI’s potential responsibly, businesses must adopt a values-led approach to AI implementation, developing transparent, holistic and ethical AI strategies that consider broader social and environmental impacts, aligned with the organisation’s core purpose.
By proactively addressing the challenges and embracing the opportunities, organisations can ensure that AI serves as a force for good, driving innovation while upholding the principles of responsible business and sustainability.
[1] Business in the Community. 2024. Lifting up the UK: State of the Nation 2024.
[2] Business in the Community. 2025. Unleashing AI’s Potential to Shape Responsible Business.
[3] IEA. 2024. AI and climate change: Energy and AI.
[4] UN Environment Programme. 2024. AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about that.
