I see numerous posts about how unarmed attacks can’t trigger sneak attacks.  This makes sense, I think because unarmed is considered martial not finesse? however

Finesse

When Making an Attack with a finesse weapon, you use your choice of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the Attack and Damage Rolls. You must use the same modifier for both rolls.

However from martial arts description

• You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the Attack and Damage Rolls of your unarmed strikes and monk Weapons.

so could this be treated as though all martial arts attacks are acceptable as finesse and accuracy attack which would indeed allow for sneak attack to be triggered.

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martial arts with a monk weapon still uses the unarmed martial damage dice or weapon dmg die which ever is greater right?

so a higher level monk with some rogue using a dagger or short sword is still able to sneak attack and use the two full unarmed/monk damage die and extra attacks and bonus attacks as designed?

then I also read some conflicting forum posts about what exactly Ki empowered strikes does.  Some people were saying that it’s only unarmed attacked and others were saying it’s actually any martial art attack, thus with monk weapons.  Could I get clarity on this? 

thank you

Rogue's sneak attack says:
"Beginning at 1st level, you know how to strike subtly and exploit a foe’s distraction. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 1d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack if you have advantage on the attack roll. The attack must use a finesse or a ranged weapon."

Monk's martial arts feature says:
"At 1st level, your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of combat styles that use unarmed strikes and monk weapons, which are shortswords and any simple melee weapons that don’t have the two-handed or heavy property..."

If you have a Monk weapon that is also a finesse weapon such as a shortsword/dagger then both features work perfectly well. For instance say a 11th level monk / Rogue 1 makes an attack with their shortsword while meeting the requirement to trigger sneak attack then they would deal 1d8 (martial arts die)  + Dex + 1d6 (sneak attack). This would not be the case if the same monk made an attack with a quarterstaff for instance assuming the same scenario. Since a quarterstaff isn't a finesse weapon you would lose out on sneak attack. Also worth noting unarmed attacks even as a monk are not finesse, so you don't get to make sneak attacks with those either.

Quote from PiBlue >>

 

then I also read some conflicting forum posts about what exactly Ki empowered strikes does.  Some people were saying that it’s only unarmed attacked and others were saying it’s actually any martial art attack, thus with monk weapons.  Could I get clarity on this? 

 Ki Empowered Strikes:
"Starting at 6th level, your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage."

Pretty clear it only effects your unarmed strikes, however the Way of the Kensei from Xanathar's Guide to Everything grants the following feature at 6th level:
"Magic Kensei Weapons. Your attacks with your kensei weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage." 

This is most likely the source of the conflicting information you're getting.

Great thank you