W. Michael Hoffman Center for Business Ethics at Bentley University

10/19/2026

Meta’s new AI agent, Muse, is gaining popularity by helping consumers shop, compare prices, and complete everyday tasks. This raises concerns about consumer trust and responsible AI, as people are allowing AI to make purchasing decisions despite risks of mistakes and security issues.

Link: cbsn.ws/4AFqlsK

Meta's new AI tool now ranks at the top of the App Store. Some retail experts see a "natural evolution from search."

10/12/2026

Join us THIS WEEK in celebrating 50 years of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics with a one-day conference:

Business Ethics: Past, Present, and Future

Friday, October 16 | 9:00AM – 6:00PM at Bentley University, LaCava Center

Scholars across philosophy, law, management, and computer science will gather for engaging talks, panels, and roundtables exploring the past, present, and future of business ethics research, teaching, and practice. Keynote address by Alan Strudler of The Wharton School.

Registration is free and includes morning refreshments, lunch, and an evening reception. Attendees can earn up to 8.4 Live CCB CEUs.

Conference Registration: bit.ly/4rMHRaD
Oct. 15 Reception & Dinner Registration (Separate): bit.ly/4hZVIXC

10/12/2026

TikTok agreed to pay $400 million over allegations that it violated children’s privacy laws. This raises concerns about data privacy and accountability, as TikTok allegedly collected children’s information without parental consent and failed to delete some children’s accounts.

Link: bit.ly/4rpznpw

Since the lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm.

10/09/2026

The HCBE is proud to be a partner of The Ethics Institute, located in Pretoria, South Africa. The Ethics Institute invites participation in its upcoming Global Ethics Day webinar, Ethics Across Borders: Whose Values Should Prevail?, on October 15, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30.

As organizations operate across borders, they encounter different cultural expectations and ideas about ethical conduct. In recognition of Global Ethics Day 2026 and its theme, Re-centering Ethics, this webinar will explore how multinational organizations can respect local context while maintaining a consistent ethical position.

Link: bit.ly/4hwQUsD

10/07/2026

Join us NEXT WEEK in celebrating 50 years of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics with a one-day conference:

Business Ethics: Past, Present, and Future

Friday, October 16 | 9:00AM – 6:00PM at Bentley University, LaCava Center

Scholars across philosophy, law, management, and computer science will gather for engaging talks, panels, and roundtables exploring the past, present, and future of business ethics research, teaching, and practice. Keynote address by Alan Strudler of The Wharton School.

Registration is free and includes morning refreshments, lunch, and an evening reception. Attendees can earn up to 8.4 Live CCB CEUs.

Conference Registration: bit.ly/4rMHRaD
Oct. 15 Reception & Dinner Registration (Separate): bit.ly/4hZVIXC

10/06/2026

Fifty years of the Hoffman Center for Business Ethics, and we are marking it with a one-day conference.

Business Ethics: Past, Present, and Future
Friday, October 16, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Bentley University, LaCava Center

Scholars from philosophy, law, management, and computer science will join us for talks, panels, and roundtables on business ethics research, teaching, and practice. Keynote by Alan Strudler of The Wharton School.

Registration is complimentary and includes a morning snack, lunch, and an evening reception. Up to 8.4 Live CCB CEUs are available.

Register: https://bit.ly/4rMHRaD
Our Reception and Dinner on October 15 is a separate registration: https://bit.ly/4hZVIXC

10/05/2026

Tesla is deploying 1,000 fully autonomous Cybercabs without steering wheels or brake pedals, prompting a federal safety investigation. This raises concerns about product safety, as Tesla deployed vehicles without traditional controls while regulators are still reviewing whether they meet federal safety standards.

Link: bit.ly/4d5rTlR

Tesla is deploying approximately 1,000 Cybercab vehicles with no steering wheels or brake pedals in Austin, Texas.

10/02/2026

The Hoffman Center for Business Ethics turns 50 this year, and we would like you at the table.

HCBE 50th Anniversary Reception and Dinner
Thursday, October 15, 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Bentley University, LaCava Executive Dining Room

The evening includes a reception and dinner with a 90-minute program: short talks from leading voices on ethics and values in the corporate sector, a keynote by Kelly Richmond Pope of DePaul University, and toasts to the center.

Register: https://bit.ly/4hZVIXC
Our academic conference on October 16 is a separate registration: [LINK]

09/28/2026

General Mills replaced artificial dyes in its U.S. cereals with natural colors amid growing consumer, retailer, and government pressure. This relates to corporate responsibility and consumer health, as the company is addressing concerns that artificial dyes may negatively affect some children.

Link: bit.ly/4h9BVUb

The Minneapolis company has shifted to fruit- and vegetable-based dyes, as well as colors derived from spices like turmeric and paprika, to give its cereals their customary bright colors.