Why Responsible AI Is Now A Business Imperative, Not A Moral Debate

AI is no longer a future concept for businesses. It is already shaping decisions, culture, and value creation across every industry. Yet as adoption accelerates, questions around responsibility, trust, and long-term impact are becoming just as critical as innovation itself.

Maria Luciana Axente sits at the intersection of those debates. As a global authority on AI ethics, governance, and responsible innovation, she advises organizations on how to scale artificial intelligence without losing human agency or public trust. Her work spans corporate leadership, public policy, and international frameworks, including contributions to AI for Children initiatives in collaboration with UNICEF.

In this exclusive interview with the AI Speakers Agency, Axente explores how businesses can embed responsibility into everyday AI use, why human resonance matters more than ever in AI-driven marketing, and what leaders often overlook when deploying emerging technologies at speed. She also reflects on the generational impact of AI and why the decisions companies make today will shape not just markets, but society itself.

Rather than framing AI as something that happens to organisations, Axente argues it is something leaders actively shape. The difference, she suggests, lies in whether companies treat AI as a tool to optimise efficiency, or as a system that reflects values, culture, and intent.

Question 1: What practical frameworks can organisations put in place to ensure AI is used responsibly at every level of the business, rather than remaining a box-ticking exercise?

Maria Luciana Axente: "Well, it starts by making responsibility visible, and this is where the biggest challenge is. Currently, there is open-source expertise on how to do it, how to ensure AI systems behave responsibly. But the reality is policies could end up being buried in a handbook.

"So what companies need to be doing is make those best practices live. That means training, yes, it's very important and there's a lot of focus on training, but also psychological safety, so people feel not just empowered to question AI, but also have a choice not to use it, and are empowered to be at their best when using AI.

"I often run workshops where we simulate real-world dilemmas, procurement, marketing, ops, and ask what does responsibility look like here, in this context. And that's how you turn theory into culture, by bringing people in and allowing them, and empowering them, to be part of how AI is changing their workplace. And that's what responsible intelligence helps companies build."

Question 2: With AI rapidly transforming marketing, which trends truly matter right now, and where do you see the greatest risk of businesses losing human connection?

Maria Luciana Axente: "There's a lot of noise. Obviously, when it comes to marketing, marketing has been one of the most impacted domains by the last few years' revolution. Think hyperpersonalisation, synthetic media, predictive analytics.

"But the reality is the real trend, I would say, is human resonance. I see marketing sitting casually in between business and art. And if that's the case, the output of marketing has to resonate with us, with humans.

"We're entering an age where AI can generate content. It's a bit intimidating to see how much synthetic content the internet has at the moment, and we're only just getting started. But you know what? It's only us who can create meaning.

"So the question is, how do we use AI to deepen authenticity, not dilute it? And that's the theme I love unpacking in keynotes because when leaders get this, their marketing changes entirely."

Question 3: From your work on AI and children's rights, how is artificial intelligence reshaping the identity, behaviour, and agency of younger generations?

Maria Luciana Axente: "It couldn't be more profound. What we're seeing is that AI as a phenomenon is reshaping their identity, relationships, learning, even self-worth. It's enough to look at how the younger generation interacts with social media and how much time they're spending online.

"In my work with AI for children, with UNICEF and other entities, I've come across various reports showing how embedded digital platforms are in the lives of our children. And this reshaping happens quietly. These kids didn't choose the algorithm or the platform, and they can't control it. They have no agency.

"And this is why ethics matters so deeply for AI for children. Because we're not just building tech for today, we're also encoding norms for the next generation. If we get this wrong, they will be the ones to pay the price. And that is my mission and my passion. I advocate for education, policy, and cultural awareness every single time I speak, with a focus on AI for children."

Question 4: When people leave your keynotes, what shift in mindset or sense of responsibility do you most want them to take with them about AI's role in society?

Maria Luciana Axente: "That we have agency and we have control. And I think this is what's not as clear when you open the newspaper and read the latest interview of a tech guru. AI isn't something out there. It's in the systems we use, the decisions we make, the culture we shape.

"I would very much want people to walk away not just informed, but activated and empowered. To know that we still have control on our side over how we use AI to work for us.

"And if a company wants to go further beyond the talk, that's where responsible intelligence comes in. Because this isn't just a keynote. It's a movement on how to make AI work for us as individuals and as a collective."

This exclusive interview with Maria Luciana Axente was conducted by Tabish Ali of The Champions Speakers Agency.

Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.