‘Magic moments’: AI and the ‘disappearance’ of social work ethics?

Abstract The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in social work prompts concerns pertaining to confidentiality and privacy; self-determination and the right to participate; and engaging with individuals as ‘whole persons’. Moreover, the deployment of AI may run counter to policy aspirations articulated by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) emphasizing social workers’ ethical obligation to preserve the natural environment and to safeguard and sustain the planet. Turning to current developments, this contribution critically examines the use of AI assistants such as ‘Magic Notes’ and ‘Copilot’ in Britain. The notion, promoted by the AI industry, that the ‘human in the loop’ has the ethical capacity to override AI is questioned in the context of what Elish (2019) refers to as the ‘moral crumple zone’.