Engineers as Agents of Technological Change: Ethical Challenges of Technology Adoption

Technology adoption involves using new or existing technologies in various settings, which increases the opportunity for ethical challenges. Technology adoption implicates engineering ethics, as engineers both create and use technologies for themselves and others. Agency is a critical factor in ethical analysis of the adoption of technological change. Engineers must design, develop, and deploy technologies ethically, and also adapt to the changing technological environment. Technology adoption poses ethical challenges for engineers, such as respecting stakeholders' rights and interests, while balancing benefits and risks. Technology adoption may also implicate engineers' identity, values, and competencies, especially with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. This paper explores the ethical issues and dilemmas of technology adoption for engineers, and the consequences of ethical failures. The paper also suggests implications for engineering ethics education, such as using technology adoption scenarios and cases, fostering ethical awareness, and reasoning, and promoting a culture of ethical reflection and action.