Using AI Ethically

AI is a powerful tool, and like any powerful tool, it can be used well or poorly. Using AI ethically means thinking about the impact of your use on yourself and others.

What You'll Learn

How to use AI in ways that are fair, honest, and beneficial.

Why This Matters

How we use AI shapes how it develops and how society adapts. Individual choices matter, and ethical use creates a better experience for everyone.

Basic Principles of Ethical AI Use

Honesty

• Don't use AI to deceive people
• Be transparent about AI involvement when appropriate
• Don't present AI work as entirely your own when that matters

Harm Prevention

• Don't use AI to hurt others
• Don't create content that could cause harm
• Consider downstream effects of your use

Respect for Others

• Don't use AI to impersonate people
• Respect copyright and intellectual property
• Don't generate content about real people without consent

Fairness

• Be aware of potential biases in AI output
• Don't use AI to discriminate
• Consider impacts on different groups

Common Ethical Questions

When Should I Disclose AI Use?

Generally should disclose:

• Academic work (check institution policies)
• Professional work where authenticity matters
• Content marketed as personally created
• When asked directly

Generally no need to disclose:

• Personal use (emails, notes, brainstorming)
• When AI is just a tool like spell-check
• Internal work documents
• Creative collaboration (your choice)

It depends:

• Social media (context matters)
• Professional emails (minimal assistance vs. full drafts)
• Client work (check agreements)

Is Using AI for Writing Cheating?

It depends on context:

Academic settings:

• Check your institution's policy
• Policies vary widely
• When in doubt, ask your instructor
• Cite AI assistance if required

Professional settings:

• Usually acceptable for drafting and editing
• Check workplace policies
• Consider if authenticity is expected
• Use judgment about disclosure

Personal use:

• Generally not a concern
• You decide your own standards

What About AI Art and Creative Work?

Considerations:

• Don't claim AI work as hand-created art without disclosure
• Be cautious about mimicking specific artists' styles
• Understand copyright implications for commercial use
• Credit AI tools when appropriate

Ethical Scenarios

Scenario 1: Email Writing

Using AI to draft a work email? Generally fine - you're communicating your ideas, just with help.

Scenario 2: Job Application

Using AI for resume polish? Reasonable. Having AI write your cover letter entirely? Consider disclosing if asked.

Scenario 3: School Essay

Using AI to write your essay? Likely violates academic integrity. Using AI to understand concepts? Usually fine.

Scenario 4: Social Media Post

AI-generated content? Your choice, but be honest if asked. AI-generated fake news? Clearly unethical.

Content You Should Never Create

Some uses are clearly harmful:

• Deepfakes of real people without consent
• Fake news designed to mislead
• Impersonation to deceive others
• Harmful content of any kind
• Content exploiting minors
• Scam or fraud materials

AI tools have safeguards, but responsibility ultimately lies with users.

Try It Yourself

Consider this ethical scenario:

Bias Awareness

AI can reflect and amplify biases:

• Training data may contain historical biases
• Outputs may stereotype groups
• Underrepresented perspectives may be missing

What you can do:

• Notice when outputs seem biased
• Request diverse perspectives explicitly
• Use AI as one input, not the only voice
• Push back on stereotyped outputs

Environmental Considerations

AI has environmental costs:

• Training uses significant energy
• Running AI requires computing power
• Data centers have carbon footprints

Balanced perspective:

• These costs exist but are improving
• AI can also help environmental causes
• Be mindful of unnecessary, wasteful use

Making Good Choices

Ask yourself:

1. Would I be comfortable if everyone knew how I'm using AI?
2. Am I using AI to help or to deceive?
3. Could this use harm someone?
4. Am I respecting others' rights and work?
5. Am I being honest about AI's role?

If you can answer these satisfactorily, you're probably using AI ethically.

Your AI Code of Ethics

Consider establishing personal guidelines:

• When will you use AI?
• When will you disclose AI use?
• What won't you use AI for?
• How will you verify AI outputs?

Having clear personal rules makes decisions easier.

Pro Tip

When uncertain about ethical use, imagine:

• Your use becoming public knowledge
• Setting a precedent for everyone
• The impact on the person most affected

These thought experiments often clarify the right choice.

Common Questions

Q: Is all AI use ethical if I'm not hurting anyone?

A: Mostly yes, but consider indirect effects and setting precedents. Ethical use is about both immediate and broader impacts.

Q: Who's responsible if AI generates something harmful?

A: You share responsibility for how you use AI. Choose uses carefully and review outputs.

Q: Are there laws about AI use?

A: Laws are evolving. Some jurisdictions have rules about deepfakes, AI disclosure, and specific uses. Stay informed about your area.

Q: What if I'm unsure if something is ethical?

A: When genuinely uncertain, err on the side of transparency and caution. Or simply ask yourself if you'd be proud of the choice.

What's Next

You've learned to use AI safely and ethically. In the next module, we'll help you choose the right AI tool for your needs and build your personal AI toolkit.