What is artificial intelligence and what makes its development and use ethical?

Recorded at the RIAA Conference Aotearoa NZ 2026 in Auckland, Dr Rodger Spiller speaks with AI ethicist Dr Kerry McInerney about the ideas behind her keynote, A Quick Guide to Ethical AI.

Kerry helps us understand what the term “AI” covers and how to develop a grounded perspective amid competing promises and fears about the technology’s future.

We explore why AI is not neutral: how it reflects the values and assumptions of its creators, how historical data can reproduce discrimination, and how its use can reinforce existing inequalities. Kerry encourages us to consider how AI shifts power, who benefits and who may bear the costs.

The conversation also considers AI’s environmental impacts and why technical fixes alone cannot address its ethical challenges. We discuss the importance of rights, accountability and ensuring that different perspectives help shape the technology.

Kerry concludes with practical guidance for engaging with AI more critically and responsibly in everyday life and work—including recognising where it is useful and asking whether it is the right solution in the first place.

For ethical investors, this conversation provides valuable context for understanding the technologies they may be investing in and considering how AI’s benefits and harms are shared.

Dr Kerry McInerney is an AI ethicist and lecturer at the University of Auckland’s School of Computer Science. Her research examines AI’s social and political impacts, particularly gender- and race-based discrimination.

Disclaimer: Money Matters does not endorse or recommend any specific investment, fund, or strategy. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

To open Ethical Investment Week 2026 — themed "The Legacy We Leave" — Dr Roger Spiller (Money Matters) is joined by Vinay, Responsible Investment Manager at Betashares, to unpack how ethical investors can actually engage with artificial intelligence, rather than simply labelling it "good" or "bad."

They introduce the new Ethical Investment Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights (RIAA & the Ethical Advisers Co-op) and its five reasons AI matters to investors — reputational, legal, operational, social and systemic risk. The core of the conversation is Betashares' AI value chain framework, which maps the ecosystem across four layers: semiconductor makers (Nvidia), cloud infrastructure (Microsoft, Amazon), foundation model developers (OpenAI, Anthropic) and applications/software (Salesforce) — with a real-world case study, key ethical risks and genuine opportunities at each layer.

They also cover why Microsoft doesn't qualify as a "climate leader" for the Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders Fund despite strong AI governance, how engagement and proxy voting work alongside screening, and initiatives like the World Benchmarking Alliance's Collective Impact Coalition. The episode closes with reflections from Yuval Noah Harari's recent interview with The Economist on AI, control, and human choice.

Money Matters is an ethical investment firm helping people understand how they can make money and make a difference.

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.

What does responsible investment look like in practice, and how is the industry changing?

Recorded at the RIAA Conference Aotearoa NZ 2026, Money Matters host Dr Roger Spiller speaks with RIAA Co-CEO Dean Hegarty about the evolution of responsible investment and the challenges facing investors today.

Dean shares his personal journey into responsible investment, the role of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), and why the industry is moving beyond simply asking what investments to exclude.

The conversation explores some of the major issues discussed at the conference, including artificial intelligence, energy, modern slavery, defence and the growing importance of understanding interconnected, systems-level risks.

Roger and Dean also discuss the role of investor engagement, accountability and RIAA's certification framework, including how investors can better understand whether investment products are genuinely delivering on their responsible or sustainable investment claims.

With responsible investment becoming increasingly complex, Dean explains why collaboration, education and practical implementation are becoming more important for the industry.

Recorded at the RIAA Conference Aotearoa NZ 2026 in Auckland as part of the Money Matters podcast.

Money Matters is an ethical investment firm helping people understand how they can make money and make a difference.

This podcast provides general information for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.