Catastrophe or Opportunity? A Snapshot of Uses and Perceptions of AI in Social Work Practice

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming many sectors of society, including clinical social work practice. This paper examines the current state of AI use among social work practitioners, explores their attitudes toward the technology, and investigates the existence of organizational AI policies. This study used a mixed-methods approach to analyze quantitative and qualitative data from a survey of social work professionals across the United States (N = 103). Results revealed that many practitioners are starting to integrate AI into their work, particularly in administrative and writing tasks. They expressed mixed attitudes about its role in clinical practice, citing concerns over ethics, judgment, and confidentiality. A key finding was the widespread absence of organizational policies or professional guidance. These findings showed the current dichotomy in the social work profession regarding AI—social workers see opportunities to strengthen their work, while also expressing concerns about AI’s impact on the profession and society.