ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how major technological developments in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping the global shift towards sustainable investment. It explains how finance is now experiencing an “x-ray moment”, with technologies such as AI and machine learning allowing us to assess vast, complex data sets and look beneath the surface of companies. Further, the chapter explores what this explosive growth of non-financial information means for both investors and corporates, and why there are still challenges that stand in the way of truly mainstreaming corporate sustainability data. The different sections look at how we are currently witnessing a move from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism, as companies’ behaviour is increasingly evaluated on a broader stakeholder agenda. How will this drive towards “conscious capitalism” push companies to become better corporate citizens, and what role will technology play in the future of sustainable finance?
