With AI-first and AI-now calls continuing to grow throughout all types of organizations, the risk of ethical, legal and reputational damage is undeniable, but so, too, may be the benefits of using this rapidly advancing technology. To help answer the question of how much AI is too much, Ask an Ethicist columnist Vera Cherepanova invites guest ethicist/technologist Garrett Pendergraft of Pepperdine University.
Our CEO is pushing us to integrate AI across every function, immediately. I support the goal, but I’m concerned that rushing implementation without clear oversight could create ethical, legal or reputational risks. I’m not against using AI, but I’d like to make the case for a more deliberate rollout, one that aligns innovation with accountability. How can I do that effectively without appearing resistant to change? — Brandon
This month, I’m joined by guest ethicist Garrett Pendergraft to reflect on a familiar tension in today’s corporate world: the push to adopt AI immediately, and the more subtle and less comfortable question of whether the organization is actually ready for it. In other words, is asking for prudence the same as resisting innovation? And how can leaders advocate for governance without being cast as obstacles to progress?
Garrett is a professor of…
