Forum: Social workers need to study use of AI carefully
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
The Opinion piece “ Can AI lighten the load on social workers?
While appealing, this view oversimplifies the relationship between technology and professional practice, leaning towards technological determinism – the idea that technology itself drives change in professions. However, existing research on technology adoption tells a more nuanced story about how occupational identity and new technologies shape each other in a dynamic process.
Social workers may resist AI not because they fear AI taking over but because they do not trust that AI can do a competent job. Social workers in Singapore follow a Code of Professional Ethics that emphasises the importance of competent practice and to do no harm to service users.
The acceptance of AI in social work is not straightforward; it involves a critical evaluation of its capabilities and limitations.
The writer is right that AI could reduce administrative burdens.
However, AI introduces new tasks such as managing the AI systems, checking the AI-generated insights for accuracy and relevance, and training social workers to use AI effectively.
This new layer of work requires time and resources, potentially offsetting the benefits of reducing administrative tasks. Yet this constant oversight is necessary to maintain the trust and effectiveness of social services.
The key is critical adoption.
Rather than assuming AI will automatically improve outcomes, social workers need to carefully consider how to leverage its strengths while preserving the mission and values of the profession.
This means addressing ethical concerns, ensuring client confidentiality and uplifting the competencies of social workers.
The Code of Professional Ethics specifically highlights the need for informed consent and privacy protection of clients when using technology, principles that must be applied to AI implementation.
The successful integration of AI in social work will depend not just on the technology itself, but on how the profession shapes its use to align with its core values and expertise.
Gerard Chung Siew Kong
