AI-Augmented Social Work, Community Resilience, and Ethical Practice: Perceptions and Readiness among Social Work Practitioners and Community Organisations in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65761/jssp.2025.17Keywords:
AI-augmented social work, community resilience practice, artificial intelligence readiness Pakistan, ethical AI social services, social work practitioners’ technology adoption, algorithmic bias social workAbstract
Background: Artificial intelligence is transforming professional practices, offering significant potential to enhance case management and community resilience in social work. however, adoption in Pakistan remains underexplored, raising critical ethical concerns regarding privacy and algorithmic bias.
Objective: This study aimed to examine perceptions, readiness, ethical concerns, and potential applications of ai among social work practitioners and community organizations in Pakistan, exploring factors influencing adoption and views on community resilience.
Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study surveyed 356 practitioners and community organization staff, complemented by 24 qualitative interviews. data were collected via structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, utilizing purposive and snowball sampling, and evaluated through descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and thematic coding.
Results: Participants showed positive perceptions of ai for case management and needs assessment, with an overall usefulness score of 3.82 ± 0.74 out of 5. direct professional experience remained low at 17.1%. major ethical concerns included data privacy (80.3%), misuse of sensitive information (78.1%), and algorithmic bias (72.8%). regression indicated previous ai exposure, digital skills, education, and experience significantly predicted readiness, while ethical concerns negatively impacted adoption. qualitative insights emphasized that ai must support, not replace, human empathy and judgment.
Conclusion: AI offers promising opportunities for social work in Pakistan, but responsible integration demands targeted digital capacity-building, robust ethical frameworks, and a human-centered approach.
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