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 employment changes that may occur in a workplace when AI is adopted.

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 Javi.
  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 Javi 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 Javi should take to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

The Scenario

Workforce Changes During AI Adoption Cycles

A Mexican-American business owner. He sits in front of his computer, with documents spread across the keyboard. He looks at the viewer.
Image created with Midjourney

Xōchipilli Media, a Mexican company specializing in developing media for advertising, gaming, and streaming services, is exploring the adoption of AI tools to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

The company has found that AI can generate content faster and at a lower cost than human writers. This has led to discussions about not renewing the contract of many of the company’s current content developers.

Scenario

Javi, the owner and founder of Xōchipilli Media, has seen his company grow from a small startup to a major player in the industry. Recently, Javi’s management team informed him that the company is considering implementing AI tools that could automate significant parts of the content creation process. Javi now faces the challenge of deciding how to respond to this potential change, knowing it could result in job losses for his employees, including some who have been with the company for years.

Options for Javi

  • Embrace the Change: Support the adoption of AI tools and work on integrating them into the content development process.
  • Advocate for Retraining: Propose a plan for retraining the current staff to work alongside AI tools, enhancing their skill sets.
  • Seek Transparency: Provide clear information to employees on how AI adoption will impact jobs and what measures will be taken to support displaced workers.
  • Explore New Opportunities: Look into diversifying the company’s services to create new job opportunities within the organization.
  • Resist the Change: Oppose the adoption of AI tools and focus on the value of human writers to the company’s success.

Issues to Consider as You Decide What Javi Should Do

  • Impact on Employees: How will AI adoption impact the current employees’ jobs and livelihoods?
  • Quality of Work: Can AI tools produce content that matches the quality and creativity of human writers?
  • Economic Benefits: What are the potential economic benefits for the company, and do they outweigh the costs to employees?
  • Ethical Responsibility: What ethical responsibilities does the company have towards its employees in light of technological advancements?
  • Future Skills: What new skills will employees need to remain relevant in a future where AI tools are prevalent?

Conclusion

Javi’s decision will not only affect his career but also the futures of his employees and the overall direction of Xōchipilli Media. It is essential to consider the various options and the broader implications of adopting AI tools in the workplace. By evaluating the issues and making a well-informed choice, Javi can navigate this challenging situation in a way that aligns with his values and professional goals.

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.