Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds significant promise for transforming social services, enhancing efficiency, and improving outcomes for communities. AI’s predictive analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing capabilities have the potential to enhance service delivery, improve efficiency, and provide personalised support to those in need.
According to the way the European Union (EU) approaches AI, to help building a resilient Europe for the Digital Decade, people and businesses should be able to enjoy the benefits of AI while feeling safe and protected. Accordingly, the European AI Strategy aims at making the EU a world-class hub for AI and ensuring that AI is human-centric and trustworthy.1 In this regard, Human-centered AI (HCAI) refers to the development of AI technologies that prioritise human needs, values, and capabilities at the core of their design and operation. This approach promotes the creation AI systems that enhance human abilities and well-being rather than replacing or diminishing human roles. It addresses AI's ethical, social, and cultural implications and ensures these systems are accessible, usable, and beneficial to all segments of society.
The potential use of generative AI can play a crucial role in improving the personalisation of care and support, improving the allocation of resources to make social care and support more accessible, efficient and person-centered, as well as improving the quality of social care and support jobs. However, these changes might bring with it many critical challenges and pressing issues that social services are not prepared to adequately address. The main issues include lack of well-trained staff, digital infrastructure, technical know-how, data privacy risks, etc The social services sector must also be mindful of the possible ethical risks that arise. AI’s dependence on machine learning, which draws on large volumes of data that may not be entirely representative of the people social services support, care, and work with3, comes with a risk that algorithms used to assess service users will incorporate significant bias and inequalities.
This event aims to explore the opportunities AI presents within the social services sector, identify the critical skills required for its effective deployment, and discuss the regulatory frameworks within Member States and at the EU level needed to ensure its ethical use in the social services sector. By bringing together experts from various fields, the event seeks to foster a collaborative approach to leveraging AI for the betterment of social services.