Oxford summit paves way for ethical AI in social care
Photo by Ian Wallman
Whilst AI offers numerous potential applications and advantages within care settings, it also presents ethical risks for people who draw on care and support, careworkers and other actors in the care community.
These risks stem from both the technology's inherent limitations — like the potential for biased outputs or inaccurate information — and from possible misuse, such as improper data handling, lack of informed consent, or inadequate safety and reliability checks. There are also wider policy and ethical considerations relating to the use of AI in social care, for example how to ensure that people who draw on and those who provide care have equal access to technologies.
The Institute for Ethics in AI partnered with the Digital Care Hub and Casson Consulting to host the first AI in Social Care Summit 2025 following a cross-sector collaboration to explore the potential benefits and ethical risks posed by AI in social care. The summit brought together over 150 people who draw on care and support, careworkers, care providers, technologists and policy makers to present the work of the cross-sector collaboration and announce a new Alliance on AI in Social Care.
The result was a truly collaborative and highly fruitful event, that enabled different perspectives to be heard and shared. Speaking of the summit, Jacky Morton, Head of Customer Success at Sentai said:
Today is the greatest day of my life; I have never been around such an amazing group of people wanting to work together to make positive change.
Photos by Ian Wallman
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Social Care addressed the Summit delegates via video message. He highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the social care sector:
There is real opportunity to harness AI in new and innovative ways – from enhanced data analytics that can help predict and prevent crises, to chatbots designed to support people in navigating the care system more effectively, and much more.
Mr Kinnock added:
As we embrace AI, we must work together – including people who draw on care, care providers, care workers, social workers, commissioners, tech suppliers, and policymakers – to ensure our adult social care system enhances the lives and dignity of everyone it touches.
Among the key outcomes of the collaboration presented at the summit was a white paper and fully co-produced guidance for the responsible use of generative AI in social care. The summit culminated in a call to action, highlighting what steps must be taken by government and others actors in the care community to ensure that AI in social care will be used responsibly.
Please visit the Oxford Project: The Responsible Use of Generative AI in Social Care for further outcomes from the summit, additional information and related news.
