Abstract Objectives: This study examined the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy and AI ethical awareness among educators, specifically determining their levels and testing whether a statistically significant relationship exists between the two variables. Method: A quantitative–correlational research design was employed. From a population of 243 educators, 151 faculty members were selected using random sampling. Data were collected using an adapted Meta AI Literacy Scale (MAILS), which demonstrated acceptable content validity and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Findings: Results revealed that educators exhibited moderately low levels of AI literacy AI literacy (M = 3.65, SD = 1.42) and AI ethical awareness (M = 3.70, SD = 1.39). Specifically, deficiencies were observed in higher-order competencies such as critical evaluation and practical application of AI tools. Ethical awareness was also limited, particularly in areas of bias mitigation, data privacy, and academic integrity. Correlation analysis showed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship (r = 0.63, p ≤ 0.05) between AI literacy and ethical awareness, indicating that higher levels of technical competence are associated with stronger ethical understanding. These findings suggest that improving AI literacy may directly enhance educators’ ethical decision-making in AI integration. Novelty: This study provides empirical evidence from rural Philippine State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), a context that remains underexplored in AI-in-education research. It highlights the interconnected development of AI literacy and ethical awareness and offers data-driven insights for designing capacity-building programs in resource-constrained educational settings. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI Literacy, AI Ethical Awareness, Education Technology, Faculty Competence
Jesus M Meneses III (Fri,) studied this question.