AI as an Ethical Ally in Times of Change

Join the ICF Ethics Community of Practice and presenters Panos Malakoudis, PCC, and Susan Caesar on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, from 8–9:30 a.m. (New York), for an interactive exploration of how artificial intelligence (AI) can serve as an ethical ally for coaches and clients navigating change and complexity.

Who Is This For?

• Professional coaches who want to explore ethical opportunities and challenges associated with AI in coaching. 
• Newer and experienced coaches who are looking to strengthen ethical decision-making when using AI. 
• Internal and external coaches who want to explore ways AI can support client awareness and professional coaching practices. 
• Coach educators and mentor coaches who are looking to facilitate conversations about responsible AI integration. 
• HR and organizational leaders who want to understand how AI may support ethical leadership and human-centered decision-making

What You Will Learn:

• Examine how AI can serve as an ethical ally in coaching while recognizing potential risks and limitations. 
• Identify ethical considerations related to transparency, confidentiality, client autonomy and responsible AI use. 
• Explore how AI tools may support client awareness, reflection and decision-making during periods of change. 
• Apply relevant ICF Core Competencies and ethical principles when evaluating AI-supported coaching practices. 
• Develop questions for assessing whether an AI application supports client well-being, trust and professional coaching standards. 

Course Details

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how people work, learn and make decisions. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into professional coaching, conversations often focus on the risks of using emerging technologies and the importance of protecting ethical standards. But what if we approached the conversation from a different perspective? What if AI could also serve as an ethical ally? 

Join the ICF Ethics Community of Practice and presenters Panos Malakoudis, PCC, and Susan Caesar for an interactive exploration of how AI may support ethical awareness, responsible decision-making and human-centered coaching during times of change and complexity. 

Rather than focusing exclusively on mitigating the risks associated with AI, this session invites participants to consider how technology might contribute positively to ethical coaching practices. Through facilitated discussion and reflection, participants will explore opportunities to use AI thoughtfully while maintaining the professional responsibilities, relationships and values central to coaching. 

The conversation will examine the relationship between AI and relevant ICF Core Competencies, including Demonstrates Ethical Practice, Embodies a Coaching Mindset, Cultivates Trust and Safety, Evokes Awareness and Facilitates Client Growth. Participants will consider how these competencies can inform decisions about whether, when and how AI should be incorporated into coaching activities. 

Particular attention will be given to maintaining client autonomy, confidentiality, transparency and trust. Participants will explore questions coaches can ask when considering AI-supported practices, including how technology might influence client choices, shape perspectives or introduce unintended consequences. These discussions will encourage coaches to evaluate AI not only through the lens of efficiency or innovation, but also through its potential impact on the coaching relationship and client well-being. 

The session will also introduce opportunities to think critically about AI tools and their potential applications. Participants will consider how an ethical framework can guide technology-related decisions, helping coaches distinguish between uses that support professional practice and those that may create concerns about boundaries, responsibility or client agency. 

Designed as an interactive Zoom meeting, the webinar will create space for reflection, dialogue and the exchange of perspectives among coaches and other professionals navigating AI-related changes. Participants will be encouraged to question assumptions, consider different approaches and identify practical ways to strengthen their ethical awareness. 

Whether you are beginning to explore AI or already considering its role in your coaching practice, this session offers an opportunity to approach emerging technology with curiosity, discernment and a commitment to professional ethics. 

Discover how shifting the conversation from AI as an ethical risk to AI as a potential ethical ally can open new possibilities for responsible innovation while keeping human connection, client interests and ethical practice at the center of coaching