Artificial Intelligence While Useful Presents Ethical Challenges, Author Says

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By Paul R. Pace

“I fully understand that there is vigorous debate about the merits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence,” says Frederic G. Reamer, PhD, professor emeritus in the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College. “Some social workers, clients and members of the general public are enthusiastic about the potential value of AI, while others are wary and view AI with skepticism and deep concern.”

“Those who embrace AI view it as a way to expand social workers’ reach and bring services, resources, and information to people who might otherwise have difficulty accessing them,” says Reamer, a well-known expert on social work ethics. “Others are profoundly worried about daunting AI-related challenges concerning client privacy and confidentiality; informed consent; client misdiagnosis, abandonment, and surveillance; plagiarism, dishonesty, fraud, deception, and misrepresentation; and what we call algorithmic bias.”

Even if social workers are skeptical about AI, they must understand how their clients and others are using this powerful tool, says Reamer, who has a new NASW Press book that addresses this complex trend. Artificial Intelligence in the Behavioral Health Professions: Ethical and Risk Management Issues, provides readers with a succinct overview of the ways social workers and other behavioral health professionals are using AI, the associated ethical and risk management issues, practical protocols for ethical use of AI, and state-of-the-art strategies that will protect clients and practitioners.

This book and other NASW Press products are available at NASWPress.org