Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful force in our world today. It has been increasingly integrated into both business and our personal lives, typically in very positive and exciting ways—from virtual assistants to helpful chatbots, targeted ad placements, cost-cutting automated manufacturing, and even self-driving cars. So why would someone like Bill Gates liken AI to nuclear energy, calling it “both promising and dangerous”?

Despite the innumerable advantages it offers, AI is also a disruptive technology. It involves such a superabundance of data and touches so many facets of our lives that the immense promise it holds must be thoughtfully managed and carefully balanced with its potential dangers. AI’s continued development therefore entails not only practical considerations but also ethical ones. Determining how these systems should be designed and which data should be used to fuel them requires a measured, reasoned, and mindful approach. Those who wish to harness the power of AI must proactively address the moral considerations inherent in doing so.

Integrating AI into your business goes beyond just using AI for AI’s sake—it should be employed judiciously and with specific objectives in mind. Used wisely, AI can help you solve operational bottlenecks, optimize digital transformation, redefine the customer experience, and empower people to create more value. True progress will not be measured by how far AI technology can go but rather by how successfully and ethically we can apply it to solve our greatest challenges.