Journal of Social Work Practice· 2026Q1
Between caution and adaptation. Artificial intelligence in Polish social work practice
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A 2025 survey of 1,243 Polish social workers found AI adoption is minimal, with most interest in back-office support (e.g., documentation, information synthesis) rather than direct client interaction tools, due to institutional and training barriers.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- AI adoption in Polish social work is currently limited, with many practitioners not using AI tools.
- Perceived benefits of AI are concentrated on administrative tasks, such as improving documentation and synthesizing information.
- Social workers express greater concern about AI tools used for direct client interaction compared to back-office applications.
- Major obstacles to AI adoption include unclear regulations, low organizational readiness, and inadequate training.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This article examines how Polish social work practitioners perceive artificial intelligence (AI), the extent of its adoption, and the hopes and concerns linked to its use. In December 2025, a nationwide Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) survey was conducted with 1,243 social workers and managers employed in social assistance centres. Findings show adoption is at an early stage: some respondents use generative tools, but for many AI remains marginal or absent from everyday practice. Perceived benefits focus on back-office support – saving time, organising and synthesising information, improving documentation quality – and thus freeing staff for relationship-based work with clients. Assessments of potential applications form a clear hierarchy: text support, translation, summarisation and information management are rated highest, whereas tools affecting direct client interactions (e.g. chatbots, automated diagnosis or needs assessment) raise the greatest concern. Key barriers are institutional and competence-related, including unclear rules, limited organisational readiness, and gaps in knowledge and training across diverse local welfare contexts.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Social Work Practice, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Public Administration
Public AdministrationSocial Sciences