AI Ethics at Work

Learning Objectives Navigate common ethical dilemmas that arise when using AI at work Know when and how to push back on unethical AI use Advocate for responsible AI practices in your organization The Workplace Ethical Landscape Using AI at work creates ethical situations that your company's policy may not cover — because the technology evolves faster than policies do. You will encounter moments where something is technically allowed but feels wrong, or where the "efficient" choice conflicts with the "right" choice. This lesson equips you to handle those moments. Common Workplace Dilemmas Dilemma 1: AI-Assisted Hiring The situation: Your company uses an AI tool to screen resumes or score candidates. You notice it seems to favor certain backgrounds over others, or you are uncomfortable with the lack of transparency in how candidates are evaluated. How to think about it: AI hiring tools can perpetuate historical biases (see the AI Bias lesson) Candidates deserve to know if AI is involved in evaluating them Efficiency is not more important than fairness What to do: Raise your concerns with HR or your manager — frame it as a risk issue, not just an ethics issue ("What happens if a candidate discovers they were rejected by a biased algorithm?") Advocate for human review of all AI-generated candidate rankings Ask what auditing is being done on the tool's outcomes across demographic groups Dilemma 2: Passing Off AI Work as Your Own The situation: You use AI to write a report, analysis, or creative piece. Your…