Discussing the Ethics of Professional AI Use in Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly widely used in medicine, industry, and research. As AI powers rapid advances in these fields, chemistry professionals must be prepared for accompanying ethical considerations. Teaching resources are needed to inform today's undergraduate students about emerging uses of AI and help them think critically about corresponding ethical issues. We designed and piloted two exercises using articles from the popular press to introduce students to professional uses of AI in chemistry and related areas. In one exercise, students presented and defended a position on an ethical question about AI use. In another, students named the largest stakeholders, benefits, and drawbacks. Using student writing and follow-up assignments, we find that students are optimistic that AI will advance these fields but are also concerned that human labor and ideas should be protected. We close with suggestions for other instructors designing similar assignments.