W. Michael Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University

08/28/2026

Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University! On October 15, 2026 at Bentley University LaCava Executive Dining Room, HCBE will host a special reception and gala dinner featuring thought leaders in business ethics and a keynote address by , an award-winning forensic accounting expert and professor at DePaul University.

We invite alumni, students, and friends of the center to join us for this milestone celebration and reflect on 50 years of advancing ethics in business!

Reception & Dinner Link: bit.ly/4eCkETl

08/24/2026

Meta is introducing a feature that can alert parents when a teen’s conversations with Meta AI suggest a risk of su***de or self-harm, with flagged conversations reviewed by a human before an alert is sent. This reflects a specific responsibility for AI companies to protect younger users by combining AI detection, human oversight, parental support, and emergency intervention when there is an immediate safety concern.

Link: bit.ly/4xRJHsl

New Meta AI safety tools include parent alerts, expanded protections and emergency response features for teens.

08/17/2026

The HCBE would like to recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurial endeavors of Bentley students, showcasing the innovative ideas and ventures they have pursued!

Attention Arsenal is a productivity and reminder platform designed primarily for individuals with ADHD who struggle with organization, time management, and remembering important tasks and commitments. The idea came from Bentley student Ingkar Serikpayeva observing how many students and professionals with ADHD face challenges managing deadlines, appointments, and daily responsibilities, even when they are highly capable and motivated. Many existing productivity tools assume users will consistently check calendars, to-do lists, or reminder apps, but for people with ADHD, the challenge is often not a lack of effort but the way attention and executive functioning work.

The goal of Attention Arsenal is to create a smarter reminder system that adapts to users rather than expecting users to adapt to technology. By providing personalized, persistent, and context-aware reminders, the platform aims to reduce missed deadlines, forgotten commitments, and the stress that often comes with ADHD-related executive functioning challenges.

Currently, Attention Arsenal has progressed from concept development to prototyping and early product development. Through Bentley's Entrepreneurship Hub, I have refined the idea, received feedback from mentors and potential users, and continued exploring how the platform can create meaningful value for individuals with ADHD and others who benefit from additional organizational support.

From an ethical and social impact perspective, Attention Arsenal is focused on accessibility and inclusion. ADHD affects millions of people, yet many tools are not designed with their needs in mind. Our mission is to create technology that helps people work with their brains rather than against them. As the platform develops, privacy, user trust, and responsible technology design will remain central priorities.

Link: bit.ly/4xO3LN8

The reminders app that never gives up

08/17/2026

Volvo and Rivian have introduced new electric SUVs featuring advanced AI technology, improved driving range, and customer-requested features to attract more consumers to the EV market. Both companies demonstrate a commitment to listening to customer feedback and investing in product innovation, designing vehicles that address consumer needs rather than relying only on marketing or environmental claims to drive sales.

Link: bit.ly/3Rg0NRb

Volvo and Rivian have a lot riding on their new electric midsize SUVs.

08/14/2026

Uber has strengthened its background check policies by permanently disqualifying drivers with violent felony, sexual offense, stalking, and strangulation convictions and expanding background checks to include a driver's full residential history. The policy changes show the importance of responding to safety concerns by improving screening procedures to better protect customers and rebuild public trust.

Link: nyti.ms/4fqXRsQ

08/10/2026

The HCBE would like to recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurial endeavors of Bentley students, showcasing the innovative ideas and ventures they have pursued!

Founded by Bentley students Ryan Ogren, Paige Trager, Kyle Martin, and Zoey Sandberg, RightRun is a mobile app that uses a patent-pending AI model to generate personalized running and walking routes on demand. Designed for college students, travelers, and anyone unfamiliar with an area, the app allows users to customize routes based on distance, elevation, duration, intersections, and more.

RightRun was created after its founders recognized a common concern among students: feeling unsafe or uncertain about where to exercise off-campus. The app addresses a challenge that disproportionately affects women runners, combining route personalization with embedded government safety data and automatic safety detection features.

Today, RightRun is available on Apple's App Store, and all Bentley students, faculty, and staff can access RightRun Pro free of charge using their Bentley email address. The company plans to expand to additional colleges and universities this fall before a broader public launch.

By leveraging technology to improve safety, accessibility, and confidence for runners, RightRun demonstrates how innovation can create meaningful social impact.

Link: bit.ly/3S7mZwT

RightRun is a mobile app designed to create AI-generated personalized and safe running routes on demand for anyone exploring unfamiliar areas.

08/10/2026

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is calling for stronger government oversight of AI, proposing regulations that could prevent the release of unsafe AI systems while investing $200 million in research on AI's impact on society. His proposal emphasizes that AI companies should take responsibility for addressing safety risks before releasing new technology, rather than prioritizing rapid deployment over public safety.

Link: bit.ly/4prf5Lc

In an exclusive new interview with ABC News, Dario Amodei said that AI needs to be developed with the proper guardrails to ensure it has a positive impact on the world.

08/07/2026

Two brothers from Minnesota grew a small lemonade stand into a community fundraiser that has raised more than $60,000 to support veterans and military families through Tee It Up for the Troops. Their ethical business practices demonstrate how social responsibility, community involvement, and giving back can create a meaningful positive impact while inspiring others to support social causes.

Link: bit.ly/4vILLkR

Brothers Noah, 11, and Cole Dingels, 8, started a lemonade stand to support veterans that has raised $60,000 over 5 years.

08/03/2026

Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging that the company released and marketed ChatGPT while failing to adequately disclose potential safety risks related to harmful content and misuse. The case shows how technology companies need to balance innovation with user safety by addressing known risks and being transparent about the limitations of their products.

Link: cbsn.ws/4waeTSJ

Florida has become the first state to sue OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman.

07/31/2026

Shein has acquired Everlane, a brand known for its sustainability and transparency, with Everlane stating that the deal will provide resources to expand its reach and continue its environmental commitments. The acquisition shows the challenge of balancing business growth with sustainability, as Shein now has an opportunity to support Everlane’s responsible practices while addressing concerns about its own reputation.

Link: nyti.ms/4xtUBFA

The ultra low priced retailer has purchased Everlane, the millennial standby that promised transparency.