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 activity considers the balance between the use of AI and the need for human communication in emotionally-complicated situations.

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 Suzan.
  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 Suzan 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 Suzan and the committee should take to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

The Scenario

Prompt Engineering and Emotional Manipulation

Image created with Midjourney

Purple Data Analytics specializes in Computational Modeling and Data Analytics. The executive team has discovered that improper prompt engineering for their AI-generated content has led to documents that exaggerate product demand, overstate product benefits, and create fake testimonials. This content has misled clients, employees, and the public, causing significant damage to the company’s reputation.

Scenario

Suzan, a senior data analyst at Purple Data Analytics, is the chair of a committee that must address the issues arising from this improper prompt engineering. Together, the committee must decide how to improve the company’s AI prompt engineering processes to ensure accurate and ethical content generation.

Options for Suzan and the Committee

  • Implement Prompt Engineering Guidelines: Develop and enforce clear guidelines for creating AI prompts that emphasize accuracy and honesty.
  • Conduct Regular Audits: Set up a system for regularly auditing AI-generated content to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
  • Provide Employee Training: Offer comprehensive training programs for employees on prompt engineering and ethical content creation.
  • Establish Accountability Mechanisms: Create accountability measures to track who is responsible for each prompt and its outcomes.
  • Engage in Transparent Communication: Communicate transparently with clients and the public about the measures being taken to address the issue and ensure ethical AI usage.

Issues to Consider as You Decide What Suzan and the Committee Should Do

  • Impact on Company Reputation: How will each option affect Purple Data Analytics’ reputation in the short and long term?
  • Feasibility and Resources: What resources are needed to implement each option, and how feasible are they within the current company structure?
  • Employee Buy-In: How can Suzan ensure that employees will adopt and adhere to the new prompt engineering guidelines?
  • Client Trust: Which options will most effectively rebuild and maintain client trust?
  • Long-term Sustainability: How sustainable are these solutions for preventing future ethical issues with AI-generated content?

Conclusion

By evaluating the impact on the company’s reputation, resource feasibility, employee adoption, client trust, and long-term sustainability, Suzan can make an informed decision that addresses the ethical challenges and ensures accurate, honest AI-generated content.

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.