“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.” ― C.S. Lewis
"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do." ― Potter Stewart
"In civilized life, law floats in a sea of ethics." ― Earl Warren
Yes, yes, we get it. Ethics is important. Plato, Confucius, and a chorus of LinkedIn thought leaders have all weighed in.
But here’s the thing: thanks to the unstoppable march of AI, the topic of Ethics has clawed its way out of your dusty Philosophy 101 notebook and planted itself firmly in your job search.
Because here we are, staring down the barrel of job postings like AI Content Engineer, Prompt Wrangler, and the pièce de résistance: AI Ethicist.
Sounds cool, right? (Or terrifying, depending on how many sci-fi movies you’ve binged.) Let’s break it down, starting with why Ethics is an essential practice when it comes to the growing landscape of AI.
AI Ethics isn’t just about making robots play nice. It’s about keeping us from screwing things up with them. We’re talking about:
According to Forbes, AI Ethics — spanning safety, security, human, and environmental concerns — isn't just about doing the “right thing,” but for protecting a company’s bottom line. Weak ethics can trigger everything from product failures to legal battles and reputational fallout.
As they put it: “Experience with AI has demonstrated that following good AI Ethics is not just responsible behavior, it is required to get good business value out of AI.”
Bottom line: Without Ethics, AI is artificially dangerous.
As overwhelming as this might sound, every challenge brings opportunity. The rapid rise of AI has created not only new risks but also new roles designed to manage them.
So, who gets to wear the cape in this story? The AI Ethicist.
Think of them as part philosopher, part lawyer, part PR pro, and the only person at a tech company who will actually say, “Wait, maybe we shouldn’t do that?”
AI Ethicists are responsible for:
Anil Daniel, Vice President, Data Streaming, Analytics & Machine Learning at Fidelity Investments, notes that as AI becomes more embedded in society, ethical oversight will remain critical for decades, creating strong demand for these roles across Technology, Government, and Healthcare.
Lynne Williams, Ed.D. Candidate and Executive Director of the Great Careers Group & BENG, adds:
“As emerging technology evolves day by day, so does the evolution of new roles to meet increasing demands. With the need for ethics and integrity coupled with regulatory compliance, the position of an AI Ethicist will not only become more prevalent but also essential.”
Here’s the catch: No single “ethics superhero” can cover every angle of AI’s risks.
As Deloitte points out, the challenges stretch across technology, law, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and beyond, and expecting one person to master them all is, well, impossible.
That’s why many companies are adopting a team-based approach, where ethicists collaborate with engineers, compliance officers, researchers, and business leaders. From Deloitte:
“The best way forward is through a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach — one that combines Technologists, Ethicists, Lawyers, and Business Leaders to ensure AI aligns with both organizational values and societal expectations.”
So your interest is piqued. You’re ready to explore your next possible career move. Or, you're ready to hire this brand new title. But before you search LinkedIn for “AI Ethicist,” keep in mind this role can be phrased/positioned and marketed for various companies in a myriad of ways.
Depending on the level, you might start as a Junior AI Ethics Researcher (yes, you will fetch the philosophical coffee), work your way up to Responsible AI Specialist (a.k.a. the team conscience), and eventually ascend to Chief AI Ethics Officer (imagine a corporate monk with a killer PowerPoint deck).
Entry level: Conduct ethical assessments, support policy drafting, and assist in bias audits
Mid-level: Lead ethical reviews, engage stakeholders, advise on governance
Leadership: Set the strategic ethics agenda, embed ethical practices across the organization, and influence policy
According to Teal, AI ethics roles are critical in guiding the responsible evolution of technology, especially in this fast-moving world of AI. The question arises: Is this a sustainable career path for the long term? The answer is a resounding yes, provided you set clear career goals and the role itself is clearly defined.
“In the dynamic field of AI Ethics, setting diverse career goals is essential for staying relevant and effective in a role that evolves alongside technology,” explains Teal.
But there’s a cautionary note. Dr. Jonathan Luckett warns that the danger with AI Ethics is that it risks turning into a buzzword. “When Ethics becomes a marketing tagline, we risk diluting its power — Ethical AI must be more than a slogan,” he writes.
In other words, being an AI Ethicist isn’t about titles or corporate spin. It’s about substance. Integrity in AI has to be practiced, not just promoted.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be Aristotle. You don’t even need to have liked Aristotle in college.
AI Ethicists often come from backgrounds in:
The real skillset?
The educational landscape for AI Ethics Specialists is as interdisciplinary as the challenges they tackle, with professionals drawing from a wide array of academic disciplines,” Teal informs. “This diversity is a testament to the multifaceted nature of AI Ethics, where expertise in Technology, Philosophy, Law, and Social Sciences intersect to navigate the complex moral terrain of Artificial Intelligence.”
Williams adds that while the role of an AI Ethicist needs to be ready for some public relations, it's way more than a PR role. It will require someone to be a subject matter expert.
“An AI Ethicist will become a baseline requirement, not just a niche, for companies developing and deploying AI,” she says. “Companies will need someone to design ethical frameworks built on policies, impact assessments, and regulations, as vulnerable populations must be protected through algorithmic bias audits. Broad stakeholder perspectives will also be valued as ethical oversight will be built into project teams, professional standards, and governance.”
The future of AI-related roles is… well, pick your adjective: bright, rocky, uncharted, exhilarating, terrifying. (Sometimes all before lunch.) What we do know is that it’s packed with promise and a steady influx of new opportunities.
As Ethan Mollick, Business Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With A.I., explains to ABC News:
“Going back centuries, technological breakthroughs have typically created more jobs than they've destroyed, though AI presents a novel test. Historically, technology has resulted in job creation that has offset job loss. Every time that happens, we worry, 'It will be different this time around.' It may be different this time around — AI is a very different technology. But we don't know the shape of that."
In other words, history suggests we’ll come out ahead, but with AI, the jury’s still out.
What we can measure is demand:
By 2025, they’ve grown another 56% year over year
The World Economic Forum echoes this momentum, projecting 170 million new AI-driven jobs globally by 2030, compared to 92 million expected losses.
That’s not just growth; that’s warp speed!
For AI Ethicists specifically, the responsibilities are only expanding:
Accountability
Bias audits
Data privacy protections
Fairness and transparency
Assessing the broader social impact of technology
So if you’re considering a career in AI Ethics — or watching your current role morph under the glow of Artificial Intelligence — buckle up. It’s a transformative time to be on the job market, and the ride is only getting started.
Navigating that ride, though, can feel overwhelming. Roles are shifting, titles are multiplying, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re reading a real job description or a Black Mirror script. That’s where having a partner can make a difference.
At Artisan Talent, we work with creatives, marketers, and business leaders who are figuring out what AI means for their teams and for their own careers. Whether you’re:
The future of work may be unpredictable, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If AI has changed the way you hire — or the way you work — we’ll help you take your next step.