EdgeWorks™ has signed the Oxford Project's Tech Suppliers' Pledge because we believe AI should support professional judgement, protect people's rights and strengthen, rather than replace, the values that underpin quality adult social care.
Artificial Intelligence is already changing the way adult social care works.
From helping organisations create policies and learning resources to supporting administration and workforce development, generative AI has enormous potential. Used well, it can reduce repetitive tasks and give care professionals more time to focus on what matters most: people.
But AI also raises important questions.
How do we make sure information is accurate? How do we protect privacy? How do we avoid bias? How do we ensure AI supports professional judgement instead of replacing it?
These aren’t questions that can be answered by technology companies alone.
That is why EdgeWorks™ has signed the Tech Suppliers’ Pledge as part of the Oxford Project on the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Adult Social Care, led by the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI, Digital Care Hub and Casson Consulting. The project has brought together people who draw on care and support, providers, care workers, academics, policymakers and technology suppliers to develop a shared, values-led approach to using AI responsibly in social care.
At EdgeWorks™, we’ve been exploring AI for several years.
We’ve developed AI-powered tools to support learning, assessment, evidence mapping and workforce development. But throughout that journey, one principle has remained constant:
AI should help people make better decisions, not make decisions for them.
In health and social care, professional judgement, lived experience, empathy and accountability cannot be automated. AI can support those things, but it should never replace them.
That aligns closely with the Oxford Collaboration’s definition of responsible AI, which states that AI should support rather than undermine the fundamental values of care, including human rights, dignity, independence, choice, equality and wellbeing.
Signing the pledge isn’t about adding another logo to our website.
It’s a commitment to continue developing AI in ways that are transparent, proportionate and centred around the people who use care services and those who deliver them.
For us, that means:
These principles already shape the way we develop our own AI features, and signing the pledge reinforces that commitment.
One of the most valuable aspects of the Oxford Project is that it recognises responsible AI cannot be created in isolation.
The collaboration brought together more than 70 organisations and individuals from across adult social care to co-produce guidance, practical resources and a shared vision for responsible AI adoption. It has since evolved into the AI in Care Alliance, helping the sector continue developing best practice together.
We believe this collaborative approach is essential.
Technology is moving quickly, but trust is built more slowly. By sharing experiences and agreeing common principles, the sector can adopt AI with greater confidence while keeping people at the centre of every decision.
AI will continue to become part of everyday practice across adult social care.
The challenge isn’t deciding whether AI has a place in the sector. It already does.
The real challenge is ensuring it is used responsibly, ethically and in ways that genuinely improve outcomes for people.
We’re proud to support that ambition and look forward to contributing to the ongoing work of the AI in Care Alliance and the wider social care community.
Care Academy AI Assessment Assistant launched
Introducing the EdgeWorks Care Certificate GPT Assistant
AI Opportunities Action Plan