Abstract
This paper explores linguistic signals exhibited by CEOs of ethical companies that use AI and proposes an ethical communication framework for leaders. Moving beyond traditional surveys, we employ computational linguistics to analyse over 500 CEOs’ letters to shareholders from ethical companies, advancing leadership measurement with technology-assisted tools. Our findings reveal a unique set of lexical signals that distinguish ethical leaders’ communication patterns from the general public and (non)hubristic leaders. Additionally, we identify four macro topics in ethical leaders’ communication: resilience, sustainability, collaboration and cooperation, and adaptability. This research contributes to the discourse on ethical leadership in the age of AI, offering both theoretical insights and practical guidance for navigating the complex interplay of leadership communication, ethics, and technology in organisational settings. Our study suggests that ethical leadership is imperative in the realms of both Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations and the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).