What You Need to Do

Read and respond to a workplace scenario that presents an ethical dilemma in at least two Discussion posts. In your response, address what you would do in the situation and suggest strategies to avoid the dilemma in the future. Discuss the posted options with your group. Use the step-by-step instructions below to complete the task.

How This Activity Connects to the Course

Ethical considerations matter in everything that you write in the workplace. You may well find yourself in a situation similar to this scenario once you graduate (or even sooner as an intern). This Discussion focuses on transparency and disclosure of AI use.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Success Tip

You can use the online texts, any notes that you have, and the available course pages in Canvas for help as you work on these questions. You can also talk to one another.

  1. Read the scenario below and consider the ethical dilemma involved for Maria.
  2. In your your first post, do the following:
    1. Present a position statement that answers the question “What would you do in this situation?”
      • Provide reasoning from your own personal code of ethics. Here you focus on what YOU think is right.
      • Provide reasoning from your discipline’s code of ethics, OR Provide at least one supporting statement or example from the Ethics Resource Module.
    2. Explain what Maria’s team should do in the future to avoid such situations.
  3. Read the posts from others in your group, paying attention to how you agree or disagree on their solutions.
  4. Write at least one additional post to discuss the solution your group will recommend and the actions Maria’s team should take to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

The Scenario

AI Disclosure in Agency Communication

A Puerto Rican woman meets with two coworkers in an office meeting room.
Image created with Midjourney

Maria is the communications director at Wildlife Guardians International, a nonprofit wildlife conservation agency. The organization plans to use Copilot to assist with generating newsletters, social media posts, and donor communications.

Scenario

Before implementing Copilot, Maria and her team are discussing the ethical implications of using AI to generate and revise messages to donors and stakeholders. They are particularly concerned about whether to disclose the use of AI in their communications.

The team understands that transparency is critical, but they also recognize the efficiency benefits that Copilot could bring. They need to draft a policy document that will guide the agency’s use of AI in communications, ensuring ethical practices and maintaining donor trust.

Options for Maria

  • Full Disclosure: Maria could propose a policy of full disclosure, informing donors and stakeholders whenever AI is used in generating or revising communications. This approach emphasizes transparency and builds trust.
  • Partial Disclosure: Maria could suggest disclosing the use of AI only in specific types of communications (e.g., newsletters or social media posts) while emphasizing that all donor-specific messages are written by humans.
  • No Disclosure: Maria could recommend not disclosing the use of AI at all, arguing that the quality and effectiveness of the communications are what matter most to donors and stakeholders.
  • Enhanced Human Review: Maria could implement a policy where all AI-generated content is reviewed and approved by a human before being sent out, ensuring a balance between AI efficiency and human authenticity.
  • Personalized AI Acknowledgment: Maria could create a policy where AI-assisted communications include a brief acknowledgment of the AI’s role, framed positively to highlight efficiency and innovation.

Issues to Consider as You Decide What Maria Should Do

  • Transparency and Trust: How important is it for Wildlife Guardians to be transparent about the use of AI in its communications with donors and stakeholders? What impact could this transparency have on trust and relationships?
  • Perception of Authenticity: How might donors and stakeholders perceive the authenticity of communications if they know AI is involved? Does the involvement of AI diminish the perceived passion and commitment of the organization?
  • Ethical Responsibility: What are the ethical responsibilities of Wildlife Guardians in terms of honesty and transparency with its donors and stakeholders? Where should the line be drawn between efficiency and authenticity?
  • Policy Implementation: How should Wildlife Guardians implement a policy on AI disclosure in communications? What guidelines and practices should be included to ensure clarity and consistency?
  • Impact on Donations: How could the decision to disclose or not disclose the use of AI affect donor behavior and contributions? What factors should be considered in predicting this impact?

Conclusion

Maria and her team face a critical decision that requires balancing the benefits of AI-driven efficiency with the ethical responsibility of transparency and authenticity in donor and stakeholder communications. Your discussion should explore the complexities of using AI in nonprofit communications, emphasizing the importance of trust, ethical considerations, and effective policy implementation.

Assessment

I will mark your participation in this Discussion Complete (or Incomplete) after the end of the Grace Period passes and I confirm that you have made at least two posts (required: one response to the original scenario, and a second in response to others in your class). Allow me several days to read and mark all your posts.