AI-supported tools show promise in areas such as early warning systems, risk analysis, data-driven policy development, and automated case management. Especially in fields like child protection, elderly care, disability support, and social assistance programs, big data and algorithms can enhance the efficiency of decision-making systems.
However, these developments also raise important critical questions:
Can decision-making processes in social work be delegated to machines?
How can principles like privacy, ethics, and human dignity be protected in algorithmic systems?
Can technology ever replace human touch?
Social work is not only about technical solutions—it prioritizes social justice, equality, and human rights. Therefore, it is essential to view AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement, and to adopt a human-centered approach to digital transformation.
As the Social Work Department at Istanbul Gelişim University, we continue to train our students to become competent, ethically responsible professionals who can critically adapt to the demands of this new era. Using the potential of AI for the benefit of humanity and integrating technology with human dignity is not only possible—it is necessary.
