Call for papers - Special Issue on AI Ethics

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping society in both conspicuous and subtle ways. For example, the face-detection feature on smartphone cameras relies on AI models specifically optimised for image recognition. Likewise, the content displayed in social media feeds is orchestrated by algorithms that analyse user behaviour, including browsing histories, search patterns, and geographic locations. Beyond these day-to-day applications, AI is being deployed in a diverse range of contexts: from business and healthcare to gaming, criminal justice (e.g., risk assessments in sentencing and parole decisions), the development of autonomous vehicles, and even fully autonomous weapon systems that operate with minimal human oversight.

Public discourse around AI has grown markedly. New AI-driven tools are introduced with striking frequency, and leading technology companies invest vast sums in expanding data infrastructure to advance AI research and capabilities. Across mainstream media and academic circles, there is robust debate over the trajectory and potential impact of AI and so-called “super-intelligence,” with forecasts spanning from existential threats to humanity, through to transformative breakthroughs such as life extension and the near-complete automation of work. As with any disruptive technology, AI presents both immense opportunities and formidable challenges. Whilst AI can propel innovative solutions—such as life-saving pharmaceuticals or novel materials for energy storage—it can also be subverted for harmful ends, including the development of undetectable explosives or lethal toxins.

The rapid pace of AI’s evolution, often measured in months or even weeks, contrasts with the much slower cadence of legislative processes, which typically extend over years. This discrepancy underscores the critical responsibility borne by those who develop and deploy AI systems to ensure they are ethical, safe, and trustworthy, even in the absence of explicit regulatory mandates. In particular, it is essential that AI innovators work collaboratively with policymakers to help close the gap, ensuring societal values are upheld as technological frontiers are advanced.

This special issue of the Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology (JEET) calls for rigorous scholarly contributions that examine the ethical dimensions of AI and the moral dilemmas arising from AI-driven technologies. We encourage submissions that address the wide-ranging implications of AI across multiple fields, including but not limited to:

• Medicine: Ethical considerations in AI-guided diagnostics, treatment, and research.
• Human Well-being: Psychological and societal impacts of near-constant AI interaction.
• Services: The ethical consequences of AI in customer service, automation, and decision-making.
• Social Media: The role of AI in content curation, misinformation, and user manipulation.
• Labour: Balancing profit imperatives with employment preservation in AI-based economies.
• Education: Ethical concerns around adaptive learning platforms and AI’s influence on
  educational outcomes.
• Research: AI’s transformative role in diverse scientific disciplines and its attendant ethical
  ramifications.

We anticipate that this special issue will serve as a forum for critical, interdisciplinary dialogue on the challenges and opportunities posed by AI. By fostering deeper insight into the ethical underpinnings of this transformative technology, we aim to support its responsible development for the benefit of all.

Submission information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts:

Submit your paper here!

Timeline

• Open date for submissions: March 7, 2025
• Author submission deadline: June 15, 2025
• Final acceptance deadline: September 15, 2025