June 26, 2026
Can We Define Fair and Ethical Use of AI?
How can people use generative AI more ethically?If we are to avoid immorally deceiving others, we ought to disclose our use of it in…
By Mukundarajan V N
2 min read
How can people use generative AI more ethically?If we are to avoid immorally deceiving others, we ought to disclose our use of it in non-trivial cases." — Siavosh Sahebi, Thomas Montefiore, the conversation.com
Non-members can read here.
People are increasingly using AI for different purposes, in different domains, with or without disclosure.
Judging the fair use of AI is problematic, especially when the user doesn't disclose it. There are infinite contexts in which people use AI. Evaluating every case for fairness is a huge challenge.
What is permissible is not necessarily morally defensible.We can, however, agree on some broad criteria for fair use of AI.
A student who uses AI to write an entire assignment, without disclosing the fact, is an unethical user. They deceived the teacher into thinking they have the ability to write such assignments independently. They also deceived themselves as they failed to develop critical thinking.
It is unethical to use AI to write an article or novel entirely and claim its authorship.
I occasionally use AI to polish the title or an awkward sentence. I think I don't need to disclose it every time because it is a minimal use that doesn't dilute the content's authenticity. I understand people with zero AI use policy may still consider my use as unfair.
Delivering a funeral speech written by AI is unethical, if it is not disclosed. Some people may disagree and say that intention of the speaker matters more than who wrote the eulogy.
Many consider writing official e-mails or writing minutes of meetings using AI as an acceptable practice.
Personal communication should use AI sparingly to qualify for fair usage.
Winning a literary competition after submitting an AI -generated piece, without disclosing the fact, is blatantly unethical.
Using AI for medical diagnosis is ethical. AI is efficient in diagnosing diseases because it is good at recognising patterns. Doctors have no problem using AI as a partner at the diagnostic stage because actual treatment depends on their expertise and judgment. Two patients receiving the same diagnosis may require different treatments, depending on several factors like their medical history. So doctors tell AI, "Thank you. We'll now decide what to do with your diagnosis."
"Dr. ChatGPT is getting remarkably good at diagnosing health problems ‑ but actual doctors are still better at weighing treatment options." — Andrew Parsons, theconversation.com
It is difficult to lay down objective criteria for fair AI use because people use the technology in diverse contexts.
Disclosure is always the best policy, especiallty when AI is used in a substantial manner. Again, what is "substantial" can be debated.
In the end, users should ask themselves this question: "Does non-disclosure deceive others in any wayt?"
A strong moral compass and self-accountability are better gurantors of fair use of AI than rules and frameworks.
Thanks for reading!