Artificial intelligence is usually discussed through the language of jobs: Which professions will disappear? How many workers will AI replace? Will companies automate entire departments?

Those questions matter. But they may not capture the most consequential change AI is bringing to workplaces and institutions.

A quieter risk is emerging: people may gradually stop exercising the judgment they are ultimately expected to take responsibility for.

The danger is not necessarily that AI makes humans irrelevant. It is that humans remain formally responsible while becoming less involved in the thinking that produces important decisions.

When AI becomes the first answer

The convenience of generative AI creates a powerful behavioural incentive.

Why spend an hour researching, comparing evidence and developing an argument when an AI system can produce a plausible answer in seconds?

At first, this looks like productivity. Over time, however, repeated reliance can change how people approach difficult problems.

A recent 2026 study examining AI-assisted decision-making found that higher levels of automation were associated with lower internal responsibility attribution and reduced information processing. The researchers suggest that when people perceive an AI system as highly reliable or autonomous, they may monitor it less closely and increasingly shift responsibility toward the technology. (ScienceDirect)

That is a fundamentally different problem from job displacement.

A worker who loses a task to automation loses part of a job. A professional who stops developing the ability to evaluate that task may lose part of their expertise.

The ‘human in the loop’ may not be enough

Companies often respond to AI-risk concerns with a simple solution: keep a human in the loop.

But putting a person at the end of an AI workflow does not automatically create meaningful oversight.

Research published in AI and Ethics this year warns that human oversight can become little more than a rubber stamp if people lack the understanding, information or authority required to challenge an AI system. Meaningful oversight requires humans to understand outputs, evaluate them and intervene when necessary. (Springer)

This distinction matters.

A doctor who independently evaluates an AI-generated clinical suggestion is exercising judgment.

A manager who approves an AI-generated employee assessment without reading the underlying evidence is performing a procedural action.

Both have a human name attached to the decision. Only one represents meaningful human responsibility.

The apprenticeship problem

There is another layer that receives even less attention: how expertise is built.

Young professionals traditionally learn by doing the difficult, repetitive parts of a job.

A junior lawyer reads cases before writing arguments. A young doctor examines patients before developing clinical instincts. A junior journalist checks documents, calls sources and learns to distinguish an important fact from a trivial one.

These tasks may appear inefficient. But they are also training grounds for judgment.

If AI removes all of those early-stage tasks, organisations may become more productive today while weakening the pipeline of experienced professionals tomorrow.

A recent paper on AI and expertise formation argues that junior tasks do more than generate immediate output: they also develop question-setting, judgment and future expertise. Automating them without designing alternative learning mechanisms could therefore weaken the development of accountable professionals. (arXiv)

This is why the debate should not simply be about jobs versus machines.

It should also be about learning versus outsourcing.

Accountability cannot be automated

There is an uncomfortable contradiction at the centre of AI adoption.

Organisations want machines to make more decisions because machines are fast, scalable and relatively inexpensive. But when those decisions cause harm, societies still need to know who was responsible.

An AI system cannot meaningfully replace legal, professional or institutional accountability simply by being described as autonomous.

Recent discussions around AI agents have made this problem more immediate. As systems gain the ability to execute actions across digital environments rather than merely generate text, questions about authorisation, audit trails and responsibility become harder to ignore. (TechRadar)

The answer cannot be to blame “the algorithm”.

Someone designs the system. Someone deploys it. Someone determines what authority it receives. Someone decides whether its output requires verification.

What responsible AI adoption should look like

The solution is not to remove AI from professional life.

AI can improve productivity, expand access to information and help people make better decisions. The objective should instead be to design workflows in which AI strengthens human judgment rather than replacing the process through which judgment is developed.

That means creating deliberate checkpoints for high-stakes decisions, maintaining audit trails, requiring people to explain important decisions and ensuring that professionals retain opportunities to practise core skills.

Human oversight should also be targeted rather than ceremonial. Recent work on AI-agent workflows recommends checkpoints before consequential actions, intervention when ambiguity or risk emerges, review before outputs are released and periodic quality checks for system drift. (Express Computer)

The real question is not whether AI can decide

The most important AI question may therefore be changing.

Instead of asking only, “Can AI do this task?”, organisations should ask:

“If AI does this task for five years, will humans still know how to do it, challenge it and take responsibility for the outcome?”

That is a harder question because it forces businesses, governments and educational institutions to look beyond immediate productivity.

AI may indeed eliminate some jobs. But the deeper institutional risk is more subtle: a world where humans remain officially accountable while gradually losing the confidence, experience and critical judgment needed to exercise that accountability.

The future of responsible AI will not be determined simply by how intelligent machines become.

It will depend on whether human judgment remains strong enough to question them.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has partnered with Coursera to introduce a free online course on Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethics, giving learners, educators and institutions worldwide access to practical training on the responsible use of AI.

Named the Global MOOC on the Ethics of AI, the course has been developed in collaboration with LG AI Research and is designed to help participants understand the ethical challenges associated with AI technologies and apply internationally recognised principles in real-world situations.

Focus on Responsible AI Development

The course is designed to help learners identify ethical risks associated with artificial intelligence, evaluate competing priorities and make informed decisions regarding the design, deployment and governance of AI systems.

Participants will explore critical topics such as:

• Privacy and data protection

• Transparency and accountability

• Human autonomy

• Fairness and inclusion

• Environmental sustainability

• Responsible AI governance

The programme combines theoretical concepts with practical case studies and hands-on learning activities.

Developed with Global Academic Experts

The curriculum has been created with contributions from leading AI experts and researchers from globally recognised institutions, including:

• Carnegie Mellon University

• University of Toronto

• Alan Turing Institute

• Other international AI policy and ethics specialists

The course aims to bridge the gap between ethical AI principles and their practical implementation across industries.

Available in 11 Languages

To improve global accessibility, the course is offered in 11 languages, including:

• English

• Hindi

• Arabic

• Chinese (Mandarin)

• French

• Spanish

• Russian

• Korean

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Bahasa Indonesian

The multilingual format allows learners from diverse regions to access the programme in their preferred language.

No Technical Background Required

One of the key highlights of the programme is that no advanced technical knowledge is required.

The approximately nine-hour course has been designed for a wide audience, including:

• University students

• Teachers and educators

• Researchers

• Policymakers

• Government officials

• Technology professionals

• Business leaders

• Anyone interested in responsible AI

UNESCO's Vision for Ethical AI

UNESCO Director-General Prof. Khaled El-Enany said the initiative represents an important step toward transforming global AI ethics principles into practical education.

According to UNESCO, the course seeks to equip learners with the knowledge and tools needed to apply ethical principles throughout the entire AI lifecycle—from development to deployment and governance.

Growing Need for AI Ethics Education

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into education, healthcare, finance, government services and businesses, experts believe ethical literacy is becoming as important as technical skills.

The course aims to prepare learners to understand the social, legal and ethical implications of AI while encouraging responsible innovation and informed decision-making in both professional and academic settings.

Spain-India Dual Year 2026: Education Minister Woos Spanish Universities

Dharmendra Pradhan invites campuses, stresses AI must bolster human creativity at New Delhi conference closing

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday wrapped up the India-Spain Conference on Higher Education here, pitching India as a prime spot for Spanish universities to set up campuses while underlining the need for AI to enhance—not eclipse—human judgment.

The two-day event, held February 19-20 at a time buzzing with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, got a strong push from the Spanish Embassy in India. It marks a key step in celebrations for the Spain-India Dual Year 2026, honouring 70 years of diplomatic ties.

Pradhan's Campus Call

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Pradhan highlighted how India's National Education Policy 2020 paves the way for global tie-ups. "India is open, ready, and welcoming," he said, extending a direct invite to top Spanish universities.

On the sidelines of the AI summit, the minister drove home a clear point: artificial intelligence should amplify human creativity, ethics, and decision-making. Democracies like India and Spain, he added, have a duty to steer responsible innovation.

From Talks to Action

Pradhan called the conference a shift "from dialogue to delivery." The knowledge bridges being built, he noted, will empower tomorrow's youth. Over 30 Spanish rectors and senior leaders from the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), plus representatives from about 70 Indian institutions, joined in.

Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary in the Higher Education Ministry, described the gathering as timely for bilateral ties. "Deliberations were focused and forward-looking," he said, pointing to education's role in innovation, growth, jobs, tech progress, and people-to-people links.

Spain's Enthused Response

Spanish Ambassador to India Juan Antonio March Pujol welcomed Pradhan's presence. "Knowledge fortifies societies and shapes generations," he remarked, stressing universities' centrality.

The ambassador outlined plans for joint research, student and faculty exchanges, and startup support. He hoped collaborations would gain steam through 2026, possibly with a follow-up in Spain and fresh MoUs. Pujol recalled PM Narendra Modi's assurance to Spain's leadership: academic partnerships are a top priority, with full facilities for campuses.

Prof Eva Alcón, CRUE President, reaffirmed Spain's commitment alongside its government. She saw the summit as the start of a lasting bond, eyeing work on fair education access, sustainability, global health—blending local needs with worldwide goals.

Ties in Broader Context

This conference slots into ramped-up India-Spain engagement. Diplomatic relations hit 70 years in 2026, with youth exchanges, research, and education at the core. Initial reports suggest strong momentum, especially after Modi's personal push.

For Indian students and institutions, Spanish campuses could mean more options without crossing borders—boosting skills in fields like AI and sustainability. Ground buzz from participants hinted at quick wins, like pilot exchange programs.

Spain-India Dual Year 2026 now eyes deeper university pacts. Officials hint at more summits ahead, with MoUs possibly inked soon. As Pradhan put it, these steps build youth confidence for a shared future.