Session: RCDC Research Roots & Wings Roundtable 2: Ethical Dimensions of AI Integration in Social Work: Transformative Opportunities and Complex Challenges (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)
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251 RCDC Research Roots & Wings Roundtable 2: Ethical Dimensions of AI Integration in Social Work: Transformative Opportunities and Complex Challenges

Schedule:
Saturday, January 13, 2024: 4:00 PM-5:30 PM
Marquis BR Salon 12, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)
Speakers/Presenters:
Anamika Barman-Adhikari, PhD, University of Denver, Bernadine Waller, PhD, Columbia University, Amulya Yadav, MS, University of Southern California, Courtney Cogburn, PhD, Columbia University, Eric Rice, PhD, University of Southern California and Hsun-Ta Hsu, MSW, University of Southern California
In the present-day context, the all-encompassing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has triggered a fundamental shift in how society functions and how people interact. As AI becomes an integral part of social work, it carries the potential to bring about significant changes. These changes promise to enhance our ability to analyze data, predict risks, and manage caseloads more efficiently. Consequently, this progress can lead to better decision-making and improved allocation of resources. However, this march towards technological advancement is accompanied by a complex set of moral challenges that demand thorough investigation and careful consideration.

In this context, the field of social work stands out as an area where we should closely examine the complex ethical problems that come with integrating AI. This novel and innovative technology brings about several challenges that social work needs to address. These challenges include problems with biased decisions, privacy violations, possible reduction of human interactions, unintentional loss of individual control, unclear accountability, and unanticipated complex issues.

This intricate landscape becomes palpable in specific instances, notably in the realm of child welfare services. Here, AI-powered evaluations run the risk of perpetuating biases against families with disabilities or from marginalized racial groups. Alarmingly, empirical evidence has shown that AI algorithms tend to unfairly target such families for scrutiny, regardless of the presence of substantial evidence. This exacerbates concerns about discrimination and amplifies existing vulnerabilities.

A similar narrative unfolded in Florida, where an algorithm designed to determine bail decisions inadvertently amplified racial biases, resulting in divergent sentencing outcomes based on racial characteristics. These instances underscore the deep ethical consequences inherent in the utilization of AI within the field of social work.

Given these complex challenges, it's clear that there's a need for careful integration of AI into social work. This involves rigorous oversight, transparent implementation, and an ongoing discourse surrounding ethical considerations. This dialogue assumes particular importance in bridging the perspectives of social work professionals and technologists who shape the course of AI systems. Combining knowledge and skills from both perspectives is the basis for ethically and responsibly integrating AI.

Given the intricacies entwined within this trajectory, our panel aims to undertake a comprehensive exploration of the ethical dimensions that converge at the intersection of AI and social work. Our panel will consist of both experts in social work and technology, focusing on the following:

1. Facilitate informed discussions to illuminate the way AI and fundamental social work principles intersect. 2. Chart a course for AI integration that aligns with the ethical underpinnings of social work. 3. Embrace a collective responsibility to utilize AI's potential while upholding the ethical essence of social work practice.

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