SOC WORK 461/463: Applied Research

The purpose of this article is to examine ethical issues related to social workers’ use of AI; apply relevant ethical standards; and outline elements of a strategy for social workers’ ethical use of AI.

As a values-centered profession with a robust code of ethics, social work is uniquely positioned to engage across disciplines to inform the creation of thoughtful algorithmically enhanced policy and practice at all levels. Social work’s core values of social justice, integrity, and the primacy of relationships render us uniquely suited to assist developers as they empirically test the effectiveness of their algorithmic products.

The profound impact that these changes will have on the context and delivery of mental health care warrants attention, but often overlooked is the more fundamental question of changes to the nature of mental health care in terms of improving prevention, diagnosis and treatments.

Digital technologies offer potential applications using tablets, smartphones, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and wearable technology to enable whole new possibilities for human services. By utilizing digital technology, human service organizations can become more proactive and citizen-centered, potentially transforming personal and economic capacity.