Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Social Work Education: A Desktop Literature Review Perspective

Abstract

The rapid advancement and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various professional domains present a transformative, yet complex, challenge for social work. While AI holds immense potential to enhance efficiency, streamline administrative tasks, and provide data-driven insights for social services, its adoption also introduces profound ethical and practical dilemmas. This desktop literature review explores the landscape of AI in social work education, synthesizing existing research, professional guidelines, and scholarly discourse, to provide a comprehensive overview. The article argues that the ethical and responsible use of AI is not merely a technical concern but a core pedagogical imperative that must be woven into the fabric of social work curricula. It examines key themes, including the potential benefits of AI in education and practice, the critical ethical challenges, such as algorithmic bias, privacy, and the de-emphasis of the human-centred relationship, and the necessary competencies social work students must acquire. The review concludes with recommendations for social work educators, highlighting the need for a revised curriculum that fosters AI literacy, critical thinking, and a robust ethical framework to prepare future professionals for a technologically mediated world