Guidelines for Construction of Ethical Policies Regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research

Abstract

This study explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on contemporary social structures, with a particular focus on the fields of education and academic research. By analyzing the phenomenon of virtualization of social space, the paper highlights the fundamental transformations in modes of interaction, learning, and intellectual production generated by the ubiquity of digital technologies and AI. In the educational context, the study examines the reconfiguration of the educator's role and traditional pedagogical practices in the face of the emergence of the "virtual teacher" and AI's ability to surpass human limitations in storing and transmitting information. It emphasizes the need for a redefinition of the teacher's mission, oriented towards developing critical thinking and cultivating a passion for knowledge. In the sphere of academic research, the paper addresses the ethical and epistemological challenges raised by the integration of AI, especially concerning the authenticity and integrity of intellectual production. It analyzes the implications of using AI in generating academic content and explores the emerging concept of "post-plagiarism," which reconfigures traditional notions of originality and intellectual property. The study also examines emerging regulations and policies at global and national levels regarding the use of AI in academia, highlighting the need for ethical and methodological frameworks adapted to the new technological reality. It highlights the potential of AI as a tool for augmenting cognitive capacities, alongside the risks associated with its uncontrolled use. The paper argues for a reflective and critical approach to integrating AI into social and institutional structures, emphasizing the importance of developing an ethics of AI use that promotes human progress while maintaining the fundamental values of autonomy, creativity, and individual responsibility. An interdisciplinary perspective is proposed to overcome the complexities of the digital era, aiming to harmonize the potential of AI with essential human needs and values in shaping the future of education and academic research.