This talk argues for engaging with AI ethics before AI-led reasoning becomes institutionally embedded.
Artificial intelligence (AI) presents both profound opportunities and unprecedented challenges for the evaluation profession. These remain insufficiently examined. Evaluators embrace AI for data analysis, evidence synthesis, and decision support. This talk examines three critical consequences: the reconfiguration of agency and responsibility; the epistemic risks of relinquishing human interpretive authority; and the impacts of Global North dominance in AI development. It argues for engaging with AI ethics before AI-led reasoning becomes institutionally embedded. It suggests that evaluative practice risks evolving from reflective human inquiry into procedural algorithmic compliance, altering evidence-based decision-making, learning, and accountability.
About the speaker:
Tom Ling has over 30 years of experience in designing, managing, and delivering complex evaluations focused on innovation, impact and quality. Most often these have focused on impact and outcome evaluations, and process and implementation evaluations. He has published widely on these and related evaluation challenges with a particular interest in strengthening the utilisation of evaluations. His clients have included UK Government Departments and agencies (including on the remuneration of and its motivation of UK military personnel), the European Commission, UNDP, OECD, the World Bank, and many others. He is a senior research leader at RAND Europe. In addition to his current role at RAND Europe, Tom was head of evaluation at Save the Children, a senior research fellow and the National Audit Office and held various academic posts. He is Professor Emeritus at Anglia Ruskin University. He is a recent-past President of the European Evaluation Society and now acts as a senior advisor to the Board. He was until December 2024 an advisor to the Global Evaluation Initiative, and he is a leading member of INTEVAL the International Evaluation Research Group. He led the analytical support for UNICEF’s 2025 review of their evaluation policy.
