Integrating Artifcial Intelligence (AI) into Social Work Practice

Social work practitioners are currently grappling with the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their practice. To help them navigate this terrain, this chapter delves into the research literature around the integration of AI and social work practice. This chapter provides an overview of challenges, benefits, and practical tools in using generative and machine learning AI tools in practice. Furthermore, the chapter outlines prompting ideas for using generative AI in social work micro, mezzo, and macro practice scenarios. Readers will gain insights into how AI can help social workers to deliver better services and improve outcomes. By the end of the chapter, practitioners will have been introduced to ways to leverage generative and machine-learning AI tools in their work while adhering to ethical standards that govern the profession. This chapter will take a look at future directions of the use of AI in social work practice.