Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a part of our lives. Many of us use it without realizing whether we write emails, find new TV shows, manage our smart devices at home or not.
It is also increasingly used in many professional contexts, from supporting recruitment to assisting with health checks to monitoring student progress in schools.
However, apart from a small number of computing-centric STEM programs, most Australian university students have not received formal tuition fees for how to use AI ethically or responsibly.
There are reasons why this is the problem and what we can do instead.
AI Previously used in UNIS
With the current growing number of Australian universities, students can now use AI in specific ratings if their use is properly recognized.
However, this does not teach students how these tools work or how responsible use is involved.
Using AI is not as easy as entering questions into chat functions. There are widely recognized ethical issues with its use, such as bias and misinformation. Understanding these is essential that students use AI responsibly in their work life.
Therefore, all students must graduate with a basic understanding of AI, its limitations, the role of human judgment, and responsible use in certain fields.
You need to notice bias in your AI system. This includes shaping how one's bias uses AI (the questions they ask and how they interpret their output) (how they interpret their output), along with an understanding of the broader ethical meaning of AI use.
For example, do data and AI tools protect people's privacy? Did AI make a mistake? If so, who is it responsible?
How about AI Ethics?
The technical aspects of AI are covered in many stem degrees. These degrees may examine ethical issues related to AI, along with the fields of philosophy and psychology. However, these issues are not part of mainstream university education.
This is a concern. Ethical reasoning skills are required when future lawyers use predictive AI to draft contracts, or when business alumni use AI to use them for employment or marketing.
The ethical issues in these scenarios may include unfair bias, as AI recommends candidates based on gender and race. This can include issues regarding lack of transparency, such as not knowing how the AI system has made legal decisions. Students should find and wonder these risks before causing harm.
In healthcare, AI tools already support diagnosis, patient triage and treatment decisions.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into professional life, the costs of uncritical use, from biased consequences to real-world harm, will also grow.
For example, if teachers carelessly rely on AI to draft lesson plans, students may learn a version of history that is biased or simply wrong. An overly hiding AI attorney can file flawed court documents and put client cases at risk.
How can I do this?
There are international examples that we can follow. The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Edinburgh both offer ethics and AI programs. However, both of these are aimed at graduate students. The University of Texas program focuses on teaching STEM students about AI ethics, while the University of Edinburgh program has a broader, local focus.
Implementing AI ethics at Australian universities requires thoughtful curriculum reform. It means building an interdisciplinary education team that combines expertise in technology, law, ethics and social sciences. It also means thinking seriously about how students will be involved in this content through core modules, graduation abilities and even mandatory training.
It also requires investment in academic staff development, access to various disciplines and related new educational resources.
Government support is essential. Targeted grants, clear national policy directions, and nationally shared educational resources could accelerate shifts. Policymakers can consider positioning the university as an “ethical AI hub.” This coincides with the 2024 Australian University Agreement Report commissioned by the government, calling for the building of capacity to meet the demands of the digital age.
Today's students are tomorrow's decision makers. If we don't understand AI risks and the possible errors, biases, or threats to privacy, we all owe the consequences. The university is publicly responsible for ensuring that graduates understand how to use AI responsibly and understand why their choices are important.
