Understanding AI Ethics: Issues, Principles and Practices

While there’s a lot of enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) in the air, you’re in good company if you’re worried about the ethical ramifications of the AI boom.

In September 2025, a survey from the Pew Research Center noted that a majority of Americans are actually more concerned than excited about AI. But the technology isn’t going away any time soon, according to Dr. Robert MacAuslan, vice president of artificial intelligence at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

“I think in our society right now, we can anticipate a significant amount of pushback against artificial intelligence, and in fact, we're starting to see that,” he said. “But as a higher educational institution, we actually really want to double down on making sure that our learners gain these skills; know how to use AI ethically and effectively, regardless of the area.”

Avoiding the subject could shut you out of conversations where decisions are made regarding how AI is implemented and regulated. So, if you want to make a positive impact, learning about AI ethics is a good starting point.

What Are the Main Ethical Concerns With AI?

From water consumption to impact on the job market, ethical issues regarding AI aren’t just hypothetical. Here are 6 concerns related to AI that have resulted in real-life consequences:

Bias and Discrimination

When an AI system is trained with data that includes human biases, those biases will be present in the technology, according to Dr. Shawn Powers, senior director of AI policy at SNHU.

“It has been argued that technology is not neutral because human values are encoded within its design and use,” she said. “We can see this in the bias of AI datasets on which these systems train.”

Bias in AI systems and a lack of diversity in training data can lead to real-life instances of discrimination, according to the Innocence Project. The tech news site Futurism reported that multiple Black individuals have already been wrongfully arrested as a result of AI, including a father who was misidentified by the NYPD’s AI facial recognition technology in 2025.

Powers noted that algorithmic bias also affects the healthcare industry and the care received by patients of different races.

“The truth is that some of the existing AI models, they exacerbate existing inequalities, largely because of the way the training data is structured and the quality of that particular data,” MacAuslan said.

Keep reading: What is AI Bias? Understanding How Data Shapes AI Decisions

Environmental Consequences

The environmental impact of AI has become a frequent topic of discussion regarding AI ethics, and for good reason.

Mike Weinstein, PhD, director of sustainability at SNHU, said that AI takes a toll on the environment in a number of ways, including contributing to:

• Depletion of water and other natural resources
• Increased energy use
• Significant carbon and greenhouse gas emissions

“These emissions also pollute our air with heavy metals and soot, leading to poor health outcomes for communities around them, like asthma, heart disease and more,” Weinstein said.

The National Education Association (NEA) encourages utilizing energy-efficient AI alternatives whenever possible.

Learn more: Understanding the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Impact on Education

AI is already presenting complicated issues regarding academic integrity that are still being evaluated at many institutions. There’s a great deal of concern about students attempting to pass off AI-generated content as their own work, and many instructors are struggling to identify academic dishonesty, Inside Higher Ed reported.

There isn’t a simple answer yet, but one thing is clear, according to MacAuslan: Schools need to teach AI literacy, ethics and critical thinking to prepare the next generation of learners for the workforce. That means AI avoidance isn’t an option.

“We need to focus on agility,” MacAuslan said. “We should be thinking about training our learners to have a variety of different skills.”

Job Displacement

While some new jobs will be created by AI, there are abundant concerns related to AI leading to fewer jobs for human beings. Entry-level jobs across industries are particularly at risk, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), and 40% of employers plan to reduce their workforce in favor of using AI to automate certain tasks.

When people need employment to afford housing, food and healthcare, a decline in available human jobs can become a major societal problem. But what if AI could help to create a world in which people wouldn't need to work for survival?

“Imagine if our time was freed up to spend more time in our families and communities,” Weinstein said. “What could we as a society accomplish if we could let our technology serve us in the capacity of creating an equitable world?”

Misinformation and Disinformation

Misinformation is false information that is spread unintentionally, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), whereas disinformation is false or misleading information that is spread deliberately.

Nonsensical or inaccurate AI outputs called hallucinations can directly contribute to the spread of misinformation, IBM noted. On the disinformation side of the spectrum, deepfakes — images or videos intended to impersonate someone — are another major concern, said Powers.

“As information and media consumers in an AI-infused world, we need to strengthen our media and information literacies,” Powers said. “One strategy is to use lateral reading. When you encounter a questionable video or image, leave the source and research the likelihood of what the source is claiming.”

Skill Decline

Over-reliance on AI can contribute to declining cognitive abilities, according to an MIT study. More than half of Americans believe that AI use will result in declining creative abilities, a PEW Research Center survey said, and Inside Higher Ed reported that 9 in 10 higher education faculty members said AI will diminish students’ critical thinking skills.

When tasks requiring creativity, critical thinking or problem-solving are regularly offloaded to AI, people start to lose those skills. It’s called “cognitive offloading,” and according to Forbes, its rewiring people’s brains.

“Our reliance on AI tools could be depriving us of the richness in how we understand the world,” Powers said. “It is critical for users of technology to keep these circumstances in mind, which can aid us in our ethical and effective use of AI technology.”

Read more: The Future of Artificial Intelligence

What Are the Principles of AI Ethics?

There are a few major considerations that should always be top of mind when engaging with AI in any capacity. Powers said these principles of AI ethics include:

• Accountability: So, who is responsible when AI makes a mistake? Within an ethical framework, human judgment is essential when it comes to AI use, and people should be held responsible for AI decisions, Powers noted.
• Dignity, Justice and Collective Wellbeing: AI systems should be used safely and in ways that benefit the entire community, according to Powers. “Treat everyone fairly and protect their rights,” she said.
• Transparency: Integrity and honesty are crucial when implementing technology, said Powers. For example, AI-generated materials should be labeled as such.
• Relational Care and Belonging: “Adopt systems that strengthen human connections and community,” Powers said.

Keep these principles in mind while using AI or planning how to implement AI in your work and life.

So, Can AI Truly Be Ethical?

While AI is used for some inherently unethical purposes — like creating deepfakes — the technology can also make a positive difference when wielded to do so. For example, AI is leading to advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, according to the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Most people would probably agree that this is an ethical use of AI, despite the negative impacts associated with AI at large.

In other situations, the question of whether or not AI can be ethical might not always have a straightforward answer: It depends on your personal ethics, how you’re using AI and to what end. However, there are a few guidelines you can follow to ensure you’re using AI in a responsible way.

How to Use AI Responsibly

Ultimately, responsible AI use requires careful discernment, Weinstein said — weighing drawbacks vs. benefits, mitigating harm where possible and being acutely aware of the impact you’re making on the world.

“A degree of meta-cognition is needed here,” said Dr. George Siemens, chief AI officer at SNHU. “What is it that you gain from AI use and what is it that you lose? Are you comfortable making that exchange?”

Powers recommended reviewing the principles of AI ethics and ensuring that you’re incorporating them consistently. Here are a few other quick tips from Weinstein, MacAuslan and Powers:

• AI outputs can contain errors and biases. Always review AI-generated materials with this in mind and understand that you’re responsible for any work you perform or decisions you make using AI tools.
• Be transparent and disclose your AI use.
• Use AI discerningly, strategically and with consideration for environmental and community impacts.

“One can think of responsible use as accountable use or accountability,” Powers said. “Accountability is closely related to transparency in that we as humans must be transparent in our use of AI tools and accountable for the consequences that may arise from the use.”

To enhance your knowledge and skillset, SNHU offers a 6-week Generative AI: Concept to Innovation microcredential course. You also might consider SNHU's bachelor's-level courses focused on AI literacy, policy and responsible use.

Remember: You can't shape conversations that you aren't in. Learning more about AI can help prepare you to influence policies and find solutions.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.