Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Southern African Input–Process–Output (IPO) Governance Framework

International audience Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds colossal promise for advancing human development, particularly in education, science, and communication. The ethical issues surrounding the design and use of artificial intelligence (AI) have become more important as it becomes more common in schools, government, and society as a whole. The Input–Process–Output (IPO) Ethics Framework is a complete paradigm for finding and dealing with ethical hazards at every stage of the AI lifecycle in response to these problems. This chapter explores the social and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence (AI) as it integrates into education and society. It examines challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, AI trustworthiness, and human agency. The literature highlights context, human agency, and the importance of diverse stakeholder involvement in AI governance, AI literacy, responsible education, and strategies for ethical assessment and mitigation. A literature review of recent articles and policy documents informs this study, focusing on AI’s evolving role in education. Education for AI focuses on Training AI Experts, preparing the Workforce and Public AI Literacy. AI for Education leverages AI tools to enhance teaching, learning, and administrative processes in educational systems. The research develops an input-process-output (IPO) framework to address ethical concerns at each stage of AI development. The IPO model outlines the ethical implications for the input, process, and output phases. Section one addresses AI’s social implications. This chapter also examines AI educational policy using the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) guidelines as a benchmark for member states. Ethical considerations in AI development and usage were also discussed in this chapter. Finally, this chapter presents the AI IPO Ethical Framework, detailing ethical responsibilities at each stage. The study underscores the role of policymakers, researchers, and higher education institutions in shaping AI’s ethical trajectory. It emphasises responsible AI implementation, ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed with ethical considerations in mind. The proposed framework serves as a guiding tool for assessing ethical risks and ensuring responsible AI integration in education. By fostering AI literacy and ethical awareness, this study contributes to ongoing discussions on AI ethics, advocating for transparent, fair, and accountable AI practices. It aims to support the ethical advancement of AI in education and governance.