I had a recent encounter with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while, probably a couple of months. The last time we met, our conversation revolved around the challenges of finding work as a postgraduate student in sociology. He is a Ph.D candidate in sociology.  Anyone who has walked this road knows the struggle. After all, how often do you see jobs advertised specifically for sociology majors? We brainstormed endlessly about possible opportunities, even far-fetched ones, like remote ones, for a sociology postgraduate, can you imagine! But nothing concrete came of it, or at least that’s what I thought.

Fast forward to a few days ago, we met again. This time, something about him was different. Not that anything had been wrong before, but something was just different about him this time, you know, an energy I hadn’t noticed the last time. After exchanging pleasantries and all, hastily, without any hesitation, and with a bit of excitement, he told me that he had found an opportunity that he believes will greatly aid him in his job search and all. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued.

“What opportunity could possibly have changed everything for you?” I asked.

“Well, it’s an AI masterclass,” he replied.

I raised an eyebrow. “An AI masterclass? How is that a job opportunity?”

He laughed, then launched into a passionate explanation about the endless opportunities in the AI industry how he could, through the knowledge gained from the masterclass, position himself, leverage new skills, and build something tangible. To sum it up, the masterclass, according to him, was meant to empower and equip participants with good AI skills that will help them in their various businesses, or in applying for jobs and all. More importantly, the course promised to empower participants with practical AI knowledge: how to create chatbots, set up AI automations, use AI for social media, streamline online businesses like affiliate marketing, dropshipping, etc, and even design digital products. You know what, I will spare you the rest of the details

By the end of his explanation, I couldn’t help but admire his enthusiasm. He had a point: the AI industry is booming, and these are undeniably valuable skills. So, I asked him to send me the link (since it was online). A few days later, I found myself in the masterclass, virtually surrounded by many curious learners.

The first session (among many upcoming ones) was lively. The facilitator painted a sweeping picture of AI: its power, its promises, its place in the future. I remember the facilitator saying AI is the future and even opining that the synonym of the word “future” should be changed to “artificial intelligence” in the dictionary. I found this statement funny, even though the facilitator sounded serious about it. Well, I agreed, to an extent anyway, just to be safe. Then he dove straight into the practicalities: automation tools, AI-driven marketing, business hacks. The common denominator was clear these skills could make you money. Who wouldn’t be interested?

Yet, as the session wrapped up, I found myself unsettled. Something was missing.

As someone who has spent a fair amount of time studying the ethics of technology particularly AI I couldn’t shake the sense that the course was offering power without a compass. And yes, this writer has read widely on AI ethics okay. I know, you caught me! Perhaps I should have mentioned this little detail earlier, but better late than never. So, back to experience.  The entire outline focused on what AI can do, but not what AI should do. There was no mention of fairness, no reflection on bias, no guidance on transparency, and no frameworks for building systems responsibly. To sum it up, there was no talk that alluded to any discussion on the ethical frameworks that would guide the participants in building these AI systems.

And that gap, I realised, is not just an oversight in a masterclass. It’s a global problem.

Skills Without Ethics: A Recipe for Distrust

Across industries, there’s a growing obsession with AI skills. Learn to code an algorithm. Automate your workflow. Harness AI for efficiency. These are valuable tools but tools alone are not enough. Imagine handing someone the keys to a powerful car without ever teaching them road safety. That’s what “AI without ethics” looks like.

The consequences are already visible. AI hiring tools that unintentionally favour or discriminate against sexes and genders. Loan approval systems that discriminate against historically disadvantaged communities and individuals. Healthcare algorithms that misdiagnose people of colour because the training data was not diverse, and more.

What’s missing isn’t technical capacity it’s ethical capacity. Without embedding trust, fairness, and transparency into AI systems, we risk scaling up our biases and hardwiring inequality into the digital infrastructure of the future. And hey, remember, it would be hypocritical to want to cling to the right to complain against any form of bias, unfairness, injustices etc, from your daily experiences, when you are building an AI system that promotes these vices.

From Masterclasses to Mindsets

That AI masterclass taught me something important not about building chatbots or automations, or about the potential of making good cash using AI, but about the glaring absence of ethics in much of today’s AI training. The future of AI won’t be built on skills alone. It will be built on mindsets that value responsibility as much as innovation.

This is exactly why I decided to join Algoviva. Our mission is to ensure that organisations don’t just adopt AI they adopt it responsibly. Through impact assessments, fairness reviews, and governance frameworks, we help build systems that people can trust, that treat everyone fairly, and that shine with transparency. 

Because in the end, the real opportunity of AI isn’t just about creating the next profitable automation. It’s about shaping a future where technology empowers without exploiting, includes without excluding, and innovates without erasing accountability.

Whether you’re a policymaker drafting regulations, a business leader adopting AI tools, or someone curious about the technology, or simply someone like me trying to attend an AI masterclass recommended by a friend, the message is the same: demand more than skills. Demand trust. Demand fairness. Demand transparency.

AI is no longer a distant future. It’s in our playlists, our classrooms, our hospitals, and our workplaces, in our spouses'/partners' devices that they wouldn’t allow us access to. The question is not whether we will use AI, but whether we will use it wisely.  And that wisdom begins with ethics!

As for my AI masterclass, well, I will definitely keep attending it and being a consistent participant. I mean, no acquired knowledge could ever be a waste, right? Especially given the prospect of making some extra cash… lol. Besides, the good thing for me is, I’ve got Algoviva, the question for you is, do you?