Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across various domains, notably in healthcare, epidemic management, and public sentiment analysis. Focusing on China as a case study, this paper critically examines AI’s societal and individual impacts duri...

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Main Authors: Xiaojun Ding, Bingxing Shang, Caifeng Xie, Jiayi Xin, Feng Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-02-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04564-x
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author Xiaojun Ding
Bingxing Shang
Caifeng Xie
Jiayi Xin
Feng Yu
author_facet Xiaojun Ding
Bingxing Shang
Caifeng Xie
Jiayi Xin
Feng Yu
author_sort Xiaojun Ding
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across various domains, notably in healthcare, epidemic management, and public sentiment analysis. Focusing on China as a case study, this paper critically examines AI’s societal and individual impacts during the pandemic. Through a synthesis of literature and case analyses, we highlight AI’s dualistic role—its potential benefits alongside emerging challenges related to privacy, security, autonomy, and freedom. The study emphasizes the crucial importance of public acceptance, normative frameworks, technological advancement, and global collaboration in navigating these challenges. We advocate for comprehensive social policies to govern AI responsibly, ensuring ethical integrity and efficiency in future public health crises. The insights aim to inform policy decisions, guide healthcare stakeholders, and enrich public discourse, promoting a balanced approach to AI in healthcare.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-0e484c31a7544836898aa8d16eddaa772025-08-20T02:16:40ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-02-0112111910.1057/s41599-025-04564-xArtificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s responseXiaojun Ding0Bingxing Shang1Caifeng Xie2Jiayi Xin3Feng Yu4Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Wuhan UniversityAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across various domains, notably in healthcare, epidemic management, and public sentiment analysis. Focusing on China as a case study, this paper critically examines AI’s societal and individual impacts during the pandemic. Through a synthesis of literature and case analyses, we highlight AI’s dualistic role—its potential benefits alongside emerging challenges related to privacy, security, autonomy, and freedom. The study emphasizes the crucial importance of public acceptance, normative frameworks, technological advancement, and global collaboration in navigating these challenges. We advocate for comprehensive social policies to govern AI responsibly, ensuring ethical integrity and efficiency in future public health crises. The insights aim to inform policy decisions, guide healthcare stakeholders, and enrich public discourse, promoting a balanced approach to AI in healthcare.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04564-x
spellingShingle Xiaojun Ding
Bingxing Shang
Caifeng Xie
Jiayi Xin
Feng Yu
Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
title_full Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
title_fullStr Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
title_full_unstemmed Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
title_short Artificial intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic: balancing benefits and ethical challenges in China’s response
title_sort artificial intelligence in the covid 19 pandemic balancing benefits and ethical challenges in china s response
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04564-x
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