Articles tagged with Ethics
A new study finds that dog trainers' methods reflect their ethical stance on animals. Owners with an anthropocentric view are more likely to use punishment-based methods, while those with a focus on animal welfare opt for positive training methods. The study highlights the importance of considering ethics in dog training.
A new study highlights the importance of involving older people in technology design to ensure devices are useful, respectful, and culturally appropriate. Co-design helps build trust and ensures technologies support older people's autonomy and dignity.
New research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that regulators with ties to Big Four accounting firms are less likely to detect financial statement errors and ask for amendments. A cooling-off period might increase confidence in regulatory oversight, but its implementation could be challenging due to staff limitations.
A new study reveals that AI's strength lies in teamwork with humans, processing data but relying on people for context and ethical decisions. The research emphasizes the importance of human oversight and responsibility in AI-driven decision-making.
In a study, university students chose to allocate harm to groups rather than individual people to avoid unfairly targeting one person. Brain imaging suggests mentalizing and valuation networks play a role in this moral decision-making process.
Countries are taking different approaches to regulating polygenic embryo testing, which raises new ethical and legal concerns. The technology has expanded from screening for monogenic diseases to assessing complex traits like intelligence and disease risk, but its clinical value is uncertain due to environmental influences.
Historian Dr Michael Edwards reveals that Samuel Pepys curated his correspondence to hide his connections to slavery and slave trading. In a surprising twist, Pepys rejected an offer of an enslaved boy as a bribe, demonstrating his sensitivity over the issue.
Experts will address critical issues in voluntary assisted dying and dementia, including community attitudes, Indigenous perspectives, and organ donation. The conference, open to the media and public, features over 130 presentations on VAD and its intersection with dementia.
Members of Gen Z actively observe, evaluate and judge companies' environmental behavior, valuing commitment and credibility. They are more critical and demanding than previous generations, with varying perceptions across countries and genders.
The MOH–NUS Postgraduate Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics aims to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge and understanding of biomedical ethics, ethical analysis and reasoning. The first awardee, Ms Kwek Shi Qi, will conduct a research project to map barriers and drivers for nurses mediating ethical conflicts in frontline work.
AI research at Georgia Tech suggests that simple safety measures are not enough to address the technology's moral implications. The study proposes a middle ground between safe and autonomous AI by advocating for 'end-constrained ethical AI.' This approach prioritizes fairness, honesty, and transparency in AI decision-making.
Researchers found that personalization features in LLMs can increase the likelihood of sycophancy, a phenomenon where models mirror users' viewpoints. The study suggests that context and user profiles play a significant role in shaping this behavior.
A study examines how human-AI coexistence is represented in fictional works, revealing varying roles and degrees of autonomy. The findings propose a theoretical model conceptualizing AI as an entity forming relationships with humans.
The US administration's attacks on biomedical research and vaccination policies have severe consequences for healthcare protection and global public health. Certain scientific topics in infectious diseases and immunology have been deprioritized, and the US has withdrawn from major global public health programs.
The expert consensus provides a structured framework for assessing large language models (LLMs) before deployment in clinical workflows. The framework includes retrospective evaluation, six key capability domains, and essential safeguards for patient data protection and bias mitigation.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that many hospital screening policies for late-career physicians lack basic fairness protections. The authors recommend creating policies that balance patient safety with fair treatment of physicians, including clear standards and appeal processes.
A new study reveals AI is being used to recreate deceased people's voices, faces, and personalities without consent, raising questions about ownership, exploitation, and power. The study identifies three dominant ways AI brings back the dead, including spectral labor, where digital remains are extracted and monetized.
Researchers at UC3M have received grants from the Ramón Areces Foundation to develop projects using AI, digitization, and chronotope mapping in archaeology, history, and cinema. The projects aim to advance knowledge of the Castilian Middle Ages and the Spanish film industry.
Dr. Tom McClelland from the University of Cambridge believes that our current evidence is insufficient to determine whether artificial intelligence has achieved consciousness. He suggests that sentience, which involves positive and negative feelings, is a more critical factor in making AI ethically significant.
Researchers found significant increases in assaults, larceny, and vehicle theft during and after professional sports games in states with legalized sports betting. Stressful game moments, such as close or tied scores, also contribute to aggressive behavior.
A framework has been developed to calculate fair distribution of the remaining greenhouse gas budget among European regions. The 'Equal Transition Opportunity Production-Based Allocation' (ETOPA) mechanism takes into account regional economic structures and risks in the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
A new longitudinal study found that young people who engage in gaming habits with gambling-like elements are more likely to gamble with real money. The research team urges policymakers to broaden regulations beyond loot boxes and includes social casino games, prize wheels, and gambling videos in the scope.
A Japanese government panel has backed a report allowing research on human embryos created from stem cell-derived sperm and eggs. Professor Tsutomu Sawai of Hiroshima University emphasizes the need for an anticipatory, rather than reactive, approach to ethics in this rapidly advancing field.
A new study from Duke-NUS Medical School reveals how AI can revolutionize medical education by personalizing learning experiences, simulating clinical scenarios, and supporting research. Stronger collaboration across schools, hospitals, and regulators is needed to make AI safe, responsible, and effective.
The conference examines the practices of responsibility in design, highlighting how women designers foster collaboration, reimagine design as a vehicle for storytelling, and shape cultural memory. The event features five thematic panels discussing topics such as social challenges, material storytelling, collecting, and pedagogy.
A recent study found that over 90% of Japanese residents were unaware of human brain organoids before being asked to donate cells. The public response was hesitant, with nearly three-quarters expressing serious hesitation or outright refusal under broad consent. To maintain trust, researchers advocate for project-specific consent models.
The University of Copenhagen has launched a new AI Package to strengthen its research in artificial intelligence and make it more accessible to society. The package aims to bring together various initiatives and research centers across the university to develop AI in a responsible, sustainable, and democratic way.
Researchers Prof Axel Cleeremans, Prof Anil Seth, and Prof Liad Mudrik warn that advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness. They emphasize the need for theory-driven research and innovative methods to advance consciousness science.
Researchers warn that advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness, with potential serious ethical consequences. A better understanding of consciousness could have major implications for AI, prenatal policy, animal welfare, medicine, mental health, law, and emerging neurotechnologies.
A new study reveals that AI chatbots, even when prompted to use evidence-based psychotherapy techniques, systematically violate ethical standards of practice. The research highlights the need for thoughtful implementation of AI technologies and appropriate regulation and oversight in mental health settings.
Researchers propose using the Agent Deed Consequence (ADC) model to program ethical values into smart city technologies. The model captures human moral judgments by considering agent intent, deed, and consequence, enabling AI systems to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate orders.
Dr. Neta Nadiv, a faculty member at Reichman University's Harry Radzyner Law School, has been selected for the Young Scholars Forum in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The forum aims to create an active research community and deepen academic dialogue in Israel.
PhD candidate Jonah Branding's work provides a framework for evaluating animal consciousness, distinguishing between symmetry and asymmetry approaches. The study highlights the importance of considering hermit crabs as a case example to navigate complex questions about animal welfare and conservation policy.
Researchers from nine countries will examine Nicaea's ecumenical, interreligious, and intercultural significance, including its impact on Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The conference aims to clarify how the Council of Nicaea situates Christianity within monotheism and what other monotheistic religions have to say about this.
Researchers Prof David Julian McClements and Prof David L. Kaplan propose hybrid foods as a solution to reduce industrial animal use's carbon footprint and boost health. The authors emphasize the need for collaboration to optimize protein combinations balancing nutrition, taste, sustainability, and affordability.
A new study found that financial advisors' childhood environment significantly predicts their core code of ethics, influencing their professional behavior. The research suggests that cultural norms from their hometown play a significant role in shaping their ethical foundations. This finding highlights the importance of considering the...
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown used machine learning techniques to show that mice's facial movements reflect their hidden thoughts. This discovery could offer unprecedented insight into brain function and potential new research tools.
Researchers reveal how hybrid foods combining proteins from different sources could be part of the solution to reduce industrial animal use. By using combinations of different proteins, they found that hybrids can overcome many limitations of individual protein sources and create products that are more than the sum of their parts.
The Leopoldina Annual Assembly focuses on the current developments and potential uses of artificial intelligence in various fields, including medicine, geosciences, and physics. The event features keynote lectures, panel discussions, and an award ceremony to recognize outstanding researchers in AI.
The Routledge Handbook of Information History provides a comprehensive study of how society, politics, culture, and technology have shaped information practices over time. The book features contributions from over forty experts worldwide and offers surprising insights into the emergence and development of the field of information history.
A new study examines how three sources of ambiguity impact carbon abatement decisions and finds that they can push policy in different directions. The authors' analysis shows that aversion to climate sensitivity, economic damage, and abatement cost ambiguity can lead to varying levels of abatement.
Researchers developed a custom speech recognition system trained on Supreme Court hearings, reducing transcription errors by up to 9% compared to leading commercial tools. The AI tool semantically matches paragraphs with timestamps, allowing users to scroll through judgements and instantly watch relevant exchanges from the hearing.
A new philosophical framework offers a nuanced way to think about the relationship between disability and well-being. The Conditional BDV challenges dominant views, proposing that a disability is harmful if it interferes with an individual's ability to pursue their aspirations.
The Leopoldina Annual Assembly will focus on the progress of artificial intelligence in various fields, including medicine, image creation, medical diagnoses, and decision-making processes. Experts from natural and social sciences will discuss the effects of AI on society, ethics, and democracy.
Systematic review highlights the challenges of nonregistration, premature discontinuation, and nonpublication of randomized clinical trials, affecting non-industry-sponsored trials. Funders' requirements and ethics committee oversight can mitigate these issues.
A former diplomat warns that algorithms lack empathy and intuition, which are essential for successful negotiations. However, AI can streamline diplomacy and amplify human aspirations when used carefully. Diplomats need training in AI ethics and global cooperation to ensure equal access and deployment.
The University of Cincinnati has established the Center for Explainable, Ethical and Trustworthy AI (CEET) with a $498,430 federal grant. The center will explore AI explainability, ethics, and trustworthiness through research and public engagement initiatives.
Two former Department of Justice scientists argue for transformative crime prevention research prioritizing social justice alongside public safety. They emphasize the need for research incorporating community perspectives and collaborative approaches to prevent harm and promote justice.
A study found that expectant mothers are often left to navigate decisions on prenatal screening for Down syndrome without sufficient information or emotional support. The research highlights the need for a national pathway to support families and provide clear information about screenings.
A new study suggests that MNEs can control crises and reduce supplier-induced ESG controversies by building small-world supply networks. This approach enables MNEs to moderate the behaviors of their suppliers, improving sustainability and reducing reputational risks.
The Journal of Medical Ethics has been ranked the world's leading bioethics journal according to 2025 Google Scholar Metrics. The journal is co-led by Associate Professor Brian D Earp and a new editorial team seeking to promote ethical reflection and conduct in scientific research and medical practice.
Researchers propose a 'Geographic Model of Meaning in Life' that examines how humans perceive and understand their surroundings. This model suggests that meaning in life emerges from the combination of lived experiences and attitudes towards life.
A special issue examines how AI can support human flourishing in various contexts, including healthcare, education, and digital interactions. The issue highlights the need for humane AI that balances technological advancement with human-centric values and psychological insight.
A new collaborative initiative explores the impact of federally funded international bioethics training programs, highlighting both significant achievements and ongoing challenges. The study advocates for continued investment in these programs to build robust bioethics capacity worldwide and address emerging ethical dilemmas.
A new book introduces a structure that balances efficiency and fairness in optimization models, examining real-world effects of different approaches. It suggests that truly optimal results are fair ones, promoting informed and ethical choices in algorithm-driven world.
A new study highlights major hurdles for multinational clinical trials in Europe, including differences in timelines and processing times between countries. Researchers found that the UK made significant gains in efficiency during the pandemic, while non-UK countries lagged behind.
Researchers found that firms set overly optimistic goals for the next period after missing their target, and surprisingly, this tactic often pays off. However, large institutional shareholders and female directors can restrain such behavior by demanding accountability and compliance with rules.
Researchers discovered AI art protection tools have critical weaknesses that cannot reliably stop AI models from training on artists' work. LightShed, a new method, can detect and remove distortions, stripping away protections and rendering images usable again for generative AI model training.
Global survey of 4,351 participants reveals that people in more equal and wealthy societies are more likely to condemn excessive wealth. Moral condemnation is linked to values related to equality, purity, and younger age, suggesting concerns about the corrupting influence of wealth.
Researchers developed a technique to study moral decision-making while driving, testing it on 274 philosopher participants. The results showed consistency across different philosophical schools of thought regarding what constitutes moral behavior in the context of driving.