Three Ways To Approach AI Ethically
- BY Elias Barboza
- March 3, 2025
Artificial intelligence is being integrated into almost every aspect of our lives, from art and finance to education and business. With this, ethical issues are bound to arise. Cal State Â鶹ÃÛÌÒAV’s new will allow students to explore AI possibilities while providing the tools to make informed decisions and ethical considerations.
Enrique Lopez is one of the program instructors who will focus his efforts on teaching students to be critical of AI. With a background in social sciences and research methodologies and research into educational technology, Lopez is able to blend his expertise in human behavior with cutting-edge innovation.
Here are Lopez’s three tips on how to manage AI in an ethical way.
1. Learn Where AI Data Comes From
Understand where data is coming from and where it is going. This is very important because you want to ensure the information is reliable.
2. Be Aware of AI’s Environmental Impact
We continue to find out AI is using lots of natural resources, like fossil fuels. Learn why and where AI comes from, and use it to be productive because there are serious implications that go along with it.
3. Utilize AI Critically
Don’t treat AI like a toy. Instead, look at it like a tool because it can have good or bad consequences. With regulations, ethical approaches, and a critical eye, it can be an amazing tool and change how we live.
In addition to teaching for , Lopez is a researcher at Freepik, where he focuses on leveraging AI to streamline the process of creating presentations, making it faster and more accessible. Before transitioning into the tech industry, Enrique earned a master’s degree in sociology from UC Davis, where he also taught in the sociology department. With a strong foundation in social sciences and research methodologies, his journey into tech has been both dynamic and impactful, blending his expertise in human behavior with cutting-edge innovation.
Enrique is deeply passionate about AI's transformative power and its potential to revolutionize all aspects of work. However, he firmly believes that as we continue to advance these powerful tools, social ethics must remain at the forefront to ensure equitable, responsible, and thoughtful implementation in our society.