Artificial Intelligence is changing how we live and work — from healthcare and education to finance and entertainment. But along with the opportunities come real ethical concerns that affect us all.

In a recent piece for the USC Annenberg Relevance Report, communications leader Kirk Stewart (co-authored with ChatGPT) highlighted the biggest challenges facing AI today:

• Bias and Fairness — Algorithms can unintentionally amplify societal bias, leading to discrimination in hiring, policing, and lending.
• Privacy — AI thrives on data, but how it’s collected and used raises serious concerns about consent and protection.
• Transparency and Accountability — Many models are “black boxes,” making their decision-making hard to interpret or audit.
• Job Displacement — Automation creates efficiencies but risks leaving workers behind.
• Security and Misuse — From deepfakes to cyberattacks, AI can be weaponized for harm.
• Environmental Impact — Training large AI models consumes massive amounts of energy.

The takeaway is clear: AI offers huge promise, but it requires human oversight, regulations, and ethical frameworks to ensure it serves society — not undermines it.

As Jason Furman of Harvard Kennedy School put it:

“Technology should serve human purposes rather than undermine a decent civic life.”

👉 For the full article, read USC Annenberg’s feature here: The Ethical Dilemmas of AI.