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Understanding AI ethics in professional services

Whatever their field of practice, professionals are seeking technologies that conform to rigorous ethical standards. These standards include:

• Fairness and non-discrimination. Organizations need to avoid biases and discriminatory outcomes. When it comes to AI, algorithms and machine learning protocols must be trained to deliver reliable, unprejudiced outputs.
• Transparency and explainability. Professionals need to disclose to their clients the application of any technology in critical decisions that will directly impact their clients’ success or wellbeing. A digital tool also must be “explainable.” That is, professionals should be capable of explaining in clear, non-technical language how the technology works, what benefits it provides, and what its limitations and potential risks might be.
• Privacy and data protection. Professional organizations must ensure that the management of sensitive data conforms to data protection regulations and, whenever possible, avoids disclosing private information to AI tools. Legal professionals, for instance, need to protect client confidentiality.
• Accountability and responsibility. These principles include clear governance structures, internal policies, and mechanisms for identifying and rectifying errors.

Navigating the ethical and regulatory challenges of AI

Ethical concerns are one of the main reasons why many professionals are still cautious about introducing AI tools into their practices. 

AI ethical concerns

Many professionals are concerned that the benefits come with a loss of professional judgment. The recent Future of Professionals report suggests that many remain uncertain about how to balance technical innovation and professional ethics.

Moreover, when asked about the biggest barriers to investing AI initiatives with their organizations, 37% cited ethics as one of their main concerns. They wonder whether AI can conform to the ethical principles and standards. In addition, 50% said that a lack of “demonstrable accuracy of AI-powered technologies” was a major barrier to investment in these tools.

These two concerns are undoubtedly interconnected.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported that their organization didn’t have a spelled-out AI adoption plan. This lack of guidance could result in the use of AI tools among individual professionals being inconsistent and inefficient.

AI regulations

Many professionals approach AI warily because of — or a lack of regulation. There's no central body that generates and enforces rules of ethical AI conduct. Still, there are several current and emerging guidelines regarding AI use that your organization can consult:

• Sector-specific requirements. A notable example is the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Though these rules don’t focus on AI usage as such, many do address the to lawyers’ practices.
• State-level AI laws. With the lack of federal regulation, several states are developing or enacting their own rules. The furthest along is Colorado. The state’s AI Act, which goes into effect in February 2026, will regulate the development and deployment of what it calls “high-risk AI systems.” The act defines high-risk as a system that makes crucial decisions regarding employment or access to financial, legal, government, or health care services.
• The European Union. Established in 2024, the became the world's first comprehensive legal framework for regulating artificial intelligence. Its risk-based approach is intended to ensure that AI systems are developed and used safely and ethically.

Moreover, many technology companies have adopted their own codes of AI conduct. Especially with the rise of AI agents, an advanced form of AI that can plan and execute complex tasks across multiple systems to achieve specific goals, it’s crucial more than ever to stay on top of AI news. In regulated professions, organizations should consider developing their AI governance protocols.

Implementing responsible AI governance frameworks

Despite the concerns and regulations, one of AI’s most significant benefits is greater efficiency. By taking on repetitive — though necessary — tasks, AI tools can allow professionals to focus their time on higher-value work that can better serve their clients and business.

However, technology must serve as an enabler of broader organizational objectives, not an end in itself. Organizations can establish that can meet the highest levels of professional conduct.

How to establish AI ethics

There are three key best practices for implementing such a framework:

• Understanding the technology. This includes a clear comprehension of how AI tools collect and use data. Organizations should also document measures taken to mitigate algorithmic discrimination, biases, and risks.
• Instructing employees about AI’s ethical and legal implications. All professionals and support staff need to understand AI’s limitations and avoid an unquestioning overreliance on these tools and the results they deliver. These are essential elements of an organization-wide culture of ethical AI use.
• Maintaining ongoing monitoring and improvement. Professional organizations should regularly test their AI systems to make sure they are providing professional-grade answers and protecting sensitive data. This best practice includes updating usage guidelines and codes of AI conduct as the technology evolves — as it inevitably will.

Since you often need to make decisions and take actions that can have a significant impact not only on clients but also on other stakeholders, you should be able to provide audit trails — how AI platforms generate outputs. As such, it allows you to demonstrate what AI data and results have been incorporated into the decision-making, which can provide transparency and accountability in case of errors, biases, or misuse.

To many people, AI seems mysterious, even a bit frightening. Organizations should be able to reassure clients and others that these tools provide measurable benefits, and that they are using them mindfully and responsibly. You needn’t be an AI developer, but you should be knowledgeable enough to discuss the platforms you use in layperson’s terms.

All this points to one overarching strategy for using AI ethically — human oversight. 91% of professionals believe that computers should be held to higher standards than humans.

A robust human review and fact-checking system can prevent AI tools from compromising the reliability of the organization’s decisions and services. A human-centric approach to AI adoption enhances professional capabilities while maintaining the necessary preeminence of human oversight and judgment.

AI should be used to augment rather than replace human decision-making; a powerful assistant, not an unmanaged independent.

�������� view on ethics

Many AI technology developers have established their own frameworks for responsible AI use. For ��������, our data and AI ethics principles focus on developing solutions that are reliable, secure, and supportive of unbiased, responsible decision-making. These principles recognize that human involvement and accountability “are essential in sectors like legal, tax, and risk professions where precision and ethical standards are paramount.”

�������� approach to AI centers on delivering professional-grade AI tailored for complex industry challenges. Our strategy is built on four foundational pillars of high-quality data, domain and technical expertise, stringent security measures, and ethical considerations.

By leveraging authoritative, unbiased data and combining it with deep industry knowledge and advanced technical capabilities, we deliver best-in-class AI that is accurate, insightful, and actionable for you and your work.