Exploring Sustainability and Positive Business Practices: The Role of AI in a Sustainable Future

In recent years, the global business landscape has undergone a significant transformation with a growing emphasis on sustainability and positive approaches to business. This paradigm shift is not only shaping organizational strategies but also influencing research across various business disciplines. This extended abstract explores the profound impact of sustainability and positive business practices on research within key business disciplines, with a particular focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering a sustainable future. Sustainability has emerged as a critical consideration for businesses worldwide, driven by increasing environmental concerns, social responsibility, and ethical considerations. In response, businesses are adopting sustainable practices, such as eco-friendly operations, ethical sourcing, and social impact initiatives, to mitigate their environmental footprint and contribute positively to society. These sustainability initiatives have prompted researchers across disciplines such as management, marketing, finance, and operations to explore innovative solutions, methodologies, and frameworks to address sustainability challenges and leverage opportunities. Positive approaches to business emphasize the importance of fostering well-being, resilience, and flourishing within organizations, stakeholders, and society. Positive organizational scholarship, appreciative inquiry, and strengths-based management are among the frameworks guiding businesses toward creating positive impacts beyond financial performance. Researchers in fields like organizational behavior, human resource management, and leadership are investigating the effects of positive practices on employee engagement, organizational culture, and performance outcomes. Moreover, the integration of AI technologies holds immense potential to drive sustainability and positive business outcomes. AI-powered analytics, machine learning algorithms, and predictive modeling offer businesses unprecedented capabilities to optimize resource utilization, enhance decision-making processes, and identify sustainable opportunities. In the context of sustainability, AI enables the analysis of vast datasets to identify patterns, trends, and environmental risks, facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable resource management and conservation efforts. Furthermore, AI-driven innovations are revolutionizing supply chain management, enabling real-time tracking, optimization, and transparency throughout the supply chain network. These advancements empower businesses to minimize waste, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure ethical sourcing practices, thereby contributing to sustainable supply chain practices. In conclusion, the integration of sustainability and positive approaches to business has become integral to research across key business disciplines. By leveraging AI technologies, businesses can harness data-driven insights and predictive analytics to advance sustainability goals, foster positive organizational cultures, and drive innovation toward a more sustainable and prosperous future. This extended abstract underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation in addressing complex sustainability challenges and shaping the future of business research.