Abstract
This study sought to explore the views of social workers on the potential use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the profession. To achieve that, this study adopted a qualitative research approach using both exploratory and descriptive research designs. Additionally, a non-probability purposive sampling method was used to recruit social workers and social work academics in Tshwane, Gauteng Province.Thus, nine participants were interviewed in this study. To this end, virtual and in-person interviews guided by interview schedules were conducted to solicit data. Consequently, thematic data analysis was utilised to make sense of the rich data that emerged from interviews. To this end, the study has found that the AI technologies can be used in social work practice for counselling and administrative purposes. Furthermore, the study has revealed that social workers are using technologies like computers, and applications such as email and Zoom in their practice settings, however it appears that social workers possess poor digital skills. Moreover, the study reveals that digital divide can adversely affect social work clients, and the implementation of AI technologies in social work.
Equally, the study has revealed that the use of AI technologies in social work can cause ethical challenges like the breaching of confidentiality and privacy, and biases-which can essentially violate social work ethics. The study further portends that AI technologies can be used in social work education to assist students with report writing and transcription. Similarly, the study reveals that AI technologies can be deployed in social work education for tutoring and simulation exercises. These findings also indicated that while the use of AI technologies in social work education can have benefits, it can also pose ethical concerns to the academic integrity as AI technologies like ChatGPT and Bard can enable students to plagiarise. Therefore, the study recommends that ethical guidelines on the safe and ethical use of AI should be developed, and student social workers require training on the responsible use of AI.