AI ethics, tech regulation and the rising currency of trust

AI advances come at a time when several societal undercurrents are moving in different directions. Public trust in companies has fallen to a record low. Political discourse and geopolitical alliances have polarised. In contrast, the influencing power of consumers has increased to record highs, with the millennial generation prepared to vote with their feet. Social media platforms have shattered all barriers to expression but, in so doing, have become unwitting conduits to a ‘post-truth’ era. In this context, what are the implications for the future viability of self-regulation in the tech sector and the changing value of corporate reputation and trust in the eyes of consumers?