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 10 points.  Answer any two questions.  Students in class earn full points for posting during class time.  Students in class who do not post in class time earn half credit by the end of the day.  Later posts earn half credit until the next class session. Zero points after the next class session for any posts.  

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Assignment: Ethical Situations Involving AI

Instructions for Students:  
Read each situation carefully. For each one, review the three possible choices (A, B, and C).  Choose one of those or create your own answer (D). Post your Answer and briefly explain why you made that choice.

 

1. AI and Essay Writing (School)

A student uses an AI tool to generate a rough draft of an essay, then rewrites parts of it and submits the final paper as their own work without mentioning the AI.

• A. This is cheating and should be punished as plagiarism.
  
• B. This is acceptable because the student revised the work.
  
• C. This is acceptable only if the syllabus does not explicitly ban AI.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

2. Hiring Decisions (Business)

A company uses AI software to screen job applications. The system consistently rejects qualified candidates from certain demographic groups.

• A. Continue using the system because it is faster and cheaper.
  
• B. Pause hiring until the AI bias is fully eliminated.
  
• C. Use the AI as a first step, but require human review of all rejections.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

3. AI Tutoring vs. Human Help (School)

A professor encourages students to use an AI tutor instead of attending office hours.

• A. This improves access to help and should be encouraged.
  
• B. This unfairly replaces human interaction and should be discouraged.
  
• C. This is acceptable only if students are clearly told the AI’s limitations.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

4. Facial Recognition on Campus (Other)

A college installs AI-powered facial recognition cameras to improve campus safety.

• A. This is justified if it reduces crime.
  
• B. This violates student privacy and should not be used.
  
• C. This is acceptable only with strict rules and student consent.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

5. Customer Service Chatbots (Business)

A company replaces most human customer service representatives with AI chatbots but does not clearly tell customers they are interacting with AI.

• A. This is misleading and unethical.
  
• B. This is fine as long as problems get solved.
  
• C. This is acceptable if customers can request a human agent.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

6. AI-Generated Art (Creative Industries)

An advertising firm uses AI to create artwork instead of hiring human artists.

• A. This harms creative professions and should be avoided.
  
• B. This is just technological progress and completely ethical.
  
• C. This is acceptable if artists whose work trained the AI are acknowledged or compensated.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

7. Data Collection by Apps (Business/Other)

A free study app collects large amounts of user data and sells it to third-party companies.

• A. This is ethical because users chose a free product.
  
• B. This is unethical regardless of the app’s privacy policy.
  
• C. This is ethical only if users clearly understand and consent to the data use.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

8. AI Proctoring Software (School)

A university uses AI-powered exam proctoring that records students through webcams and flags “suspicious” behavior.

• A. This is necessary to prevent cheating.
  
• B. This creates stress and invades privacy.
  
• C. This should be optional, with alternative testing methods available.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

9. Predictive Policing (Business/Government)

A city uses AI to predict where crimes are likely to occur and increases police presence in those areas.

• A. This improves public safety and should be expanded.
  
• B. This reinforces existing biases and is unethical.
  
• C. This can be used responsibly with transparency and oversight.
  
• D. Your answer:
  

 

10. AI in Performance Reviews (Business)

A manager uses AI to evaluate employees’ productivity and write performance reviews.

• A. This ensures fair and objective evaluations.
  
• B. This dehumanizes employees and should not be used.
  
• C. This is acceptable only as a supplement to human judgment.
  
• D. Your answer: