Poll Reveals Growing Adoption of AI Among Social Workers

A recent Community Care poll shows a notable increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) among social workers, rising from 21% to 30% in a year. This trend coincides with councils adopting AI tools to alleviate administrative burdens, enabling practitioners to focus more on direct client interactions. During a recent tech event, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that AI allows social workers to enhance their human connection by reducing paperwork. However, concerns persist regarding privacy, bias, and the reliability of generic AI tools, which may misinterpret sensitive information. Experts and practitioners advocate for AI to be a supplementary resource, not a replacement for human judgment. Many expressed that the real issues stem from systemic challenges like bureaucratic processes and funding shortages, indicating the need for institutions to prioritize adequate staffing and resources rather than relying solely on technology to resolve deep-rooted problems in social work.

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