National Survey Finds Most Social Workers Already Using Artificial Intelligence, Calling For Ethical Guidance and Professional Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Most U.S. social workers are already using artificial intelligence in their professional practice, and most say they need clearer ethical guidelines, stronger client protections and more training to do it responsibly, according to a new national survey conducted by the Moritz Center for Societal Impact at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work in collaboration with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

The results depict a profession characterized by cautious engagement rather than uncritical adoption. The widespread call for clearer guidance, training, and regulation signals not resistance to change, but rather a strong desire for professional leadership and intentional governance.

Recognizing the need for clearer guidance, NASW's Code of Ethics (COE) Revision Workgroup is recommending the development of supplemental guidance to help social workers apply the code to the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The Code of Ethics is the profession's framework for the values, principles and standards that guide social workers' conduct and decision-making. It is maintained and periodically revised through NASW's governance process.

The survey gathered responses from 1,179 social workers between October 2025 and February 2026 and offers a striking snapshot of a profession navigating rapid technological change amid the absence of clear, consistent standards.

Social work is one of the most versatile and essential components of the nation's health and human services workforce, spanning clinical and mental health services, child and family welfare, healthcare, school social work, substance use treatment, gerontology, and community advocacy.

For many respondents, AI is used to manage routine tasks that can consume hours of a social worker's day: drafting emails, correspondence, reports, and documentation; providing administrative assistance; and conducting research. But the findings also show AI entering clinical documentation and client-intervention tools, raising questions about privacy, informed consent, professional judgment, and the limits of automation in a profession built on human relationships.

Across industries, public debate around AI has increasingly focused on whether technology will reduce jobs or shift human decision-making into systems that are faster, cheaper, and less accountable. In social work, those concerns carry weight because the work often involves vulnerable people, confidential information, and life-altering decisions.

The survey found many respondents believe AI will play a larger role in the future of social work practice, even as a significant portion view it as a negative development. Respondents repeatedly raised concerns about ethics, confidentiality, data protection, informed consent, preparedness, and the risk that technology could overtake human judgment rather than support it.

Two-thirds of respondents said the profession's most pressing need is clear guidelines on the ethical use of AI in social work, alongside stronger client protections, and more training.

These concerns are already showing up in practice. Survey participants pointed to growing legislative activity around the country involving AI and mental health, including efforts to limit AI systems from presenting themselves as mental health professionals or making therapeutic decisions without human oversight. The findings suggest the profession is already living inside that debate, with technology adoption outpacing governance.

"Across the country, people are asking whether AI will replace workers or weaken human-centered professions," said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO of NASW. "In a profession centered on trust, ethics and human connection, the question is not whether social workers are using artificial intelligence. It's whether it is being used in ways that protect clients, respect professional judgment, and preserve the human relationships at the center of care."

"Many social workers are using AI to manage paperwork, reduce administrative strain, and support everyday tasks. Practitioners are asking for leadership: clear ethical standards, stronger client protections and training that keeps pace with the tools they're already using," said Elisa Borah, PhD, MSW, research professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work and director of the Moritz Center for Societal Impact. "This survey also shows real concern about where the line is, who sets it and what happens when technology enters spaces that require human discernment, accountability and care."

The findings suggest AI adoption is often happening faster than workers, clients, and organizations realize. In some settings, practitioners may already be using systems with AI built in and may not always know where the technology is present or what choices they do and do not have regarding its use.

The full report can be accessed from the website of The Moritz Center for Societal Impact.

Meanwhile, NASW members who have questions or require assistance with AI can contact the association's Practice Team for help at [email protected]