Jason Nichols of ASU Online on how artificial intelligence can solve business problems

Information systems expert shares how to use AI ethically while addressing business challenges.

In this Q&A interview published June 19, 2025, on Medium's Authority Magazine:

How do you think the use of AI to solve business problems influences relationships with customers, employees, and the broader community?

The relationship aspect of this question is the interesting part to me, and this is one area where a mindful approach to AI becomes so important.

Relationships are built on trust, and trust is earned over time, so our deliberate efforts to ensure that AI behaves transparently and ethically in its interactions with all of these stakeholders are absolutely critical. Any one of these stakeholders will lose interest and appetite for the responsiveness and personalized attention and focus that AI can unlock if they just fundamentally don't trust the system. We need to keep a sharp focus on standing up AI systems that behave responsibly within our communities and maintain strong oversight to correct any behaviors or interactions that deviate from this mandate.

Ultimately, trust is the precursor to fostering these relationships successfully. These AIs represent your business just as much as your employees do. Ensuring that they behave transparently and ethically becomes the responsibility of the business, and nothing less than your business's reputation is on the line.

— Jason Nichols, clinical professor and assistant chair of information systems