Ethical concerns in AI development: analyzing students’ perspectives on robotics and society

Purpose The rapid advancement and integration of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming various sectors, presenting profound ethical, economic, legal and societal challenges. This study aims to examine ethical concerns in AI development, with a specific focus on robotics, from the perspectives of university students in Albania. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 233 university students, focusing on their experiences with AI and robotics, ethical perceptions, preferences and recommendations for advancing these technologies. Hypotheses were tested at a 95% confidence interval, with data analyzed using JASP software version 0.18.3.0. Findings The results reveal a high level of ethical awareness among students, particularly regarding transparency, liability and privacy in AI and robotics. Practical experience with robotics and understanding of AI’s ethical implications significantly shape students’ attitudes, fostering support for ethical governance. Students also advocate for robust regulatory measures to safeguard individual rights, ensure data security, promote transparency in AI decision-making and uphold privacy. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on university students in Albania, which may limit the generalizability of its findings. Future research should explore diverse populations and cross-cultural contexts to validate and extend the proposed framework. Practical implications Insights from this study can guide policymakers and technology developers in designing laws, regulations and practices that balance innovation with public interest, fostering trust and acceptance of AI systems. Social implications The findings underscore the importance of Albania adopting and harmonizing its policies with the EU Civil Law Rules on Robotics, the EU AI Act and AI Strategy, supporting ethical AI integration aligned with the country’s EU accession objectives. Originality/value This study introduces the Ethical Awareness-Trust Framework, a novel theoretical model integrating ethical literacy, experiential trust and regulatory advocacy to foster responsible AI adoption and governance. The findings address critical gaps in the literature by offering actionable recommendations for aligning national policies with European regulations and embedding ethics into AI research and education.