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 intellectual property rights and artificial intelligence.

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

The Scenario

AI and Intellectual Property Rights

An Italian woman working at her computer in an office. Behind her, large windows look out on the city and distant mountains.
Image created with Midjourney

Lucia is a senior data analyst at AI Intelligenza, a company known for developing extensive content databases and their own AI generation engine. The company has been rapidly expanding its content library to enhance the AI’s capabilities. Lucia has been part of the team responsible for sourcing and integrating new data into the AI training modules.

Scenario

During a routine review, Lucia discovers that a significant portion of the content used for training the AI has been obtained without proper licensing or permission from the original creators. This content includes copyrighted articles, images, and other media. Lucia knows that using such content without authorization is a violation of intellectual property rights and could have serious legal and ethical implications for the company.

Options for Lucia

  • Report the Violation to Management: Lucia could immediately report the intellectual property violations to upper management and suggest halting the use of the unauthorized content until proper permissions are obtained.
  • Contact Legal Department: Lucia could reach out to the company’s legal department for advice on how to handle the situation and ensure compliance with intellectual property laws.
  • Anonymously Notify the Original Creators: Lucia could anonymously inform the original content creators about the unauthorized use of their work, allowing them to take legal action if they choose.
  • Advocate for Internal Policy Change: Lucia could advocate for stricter internal policies and procedures regarding content sourcing to prevent future violations.
  • Do Nothing: Lucia could choose to do nothing and hope the issue goes unnoticed, avoiding potential backlash or repercussions within the company.

Issues to Consider as You Decide What Lucia Should Do

  • Legal Implications: What are the potential legal consequences for AI Intelligenza if the unauthorized use of content is discovered by the authorities or the original creators?
  • Ethical Responsibility: What is Lucia’s ethical responsibility as a professional in ensuring that the company adheres to intellectual property laws and respects the rights of content creators?
  • Professional Reputation: How could Lucia’s decision impact her professional reputation and career prospects within the company and the industry?
  • Company Culture: How might Lucia’s actions influence the overall culture and values of AI Intelligenza regarding ethical practices and compliance?
  • Long-term Consequences: What are the long-term consequences for the company if they continue to use unauthorized content, and how might this affect their business and customer trust?

Conclusion

Lucia faces a difficult decision with significant ethical, legal, and professional implications. The choice she makes will not only affect her career but also the future practices and reputation of AI Intelligenza. It is crucial for Lucia to carefully consider all the options and potential outcomes before deciding on the best course of action.

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.