Our Values
The AI Ethics Lab is a values-driven research initiative grounded in community and committed to preserving the inherent worth and dignity of every person. These values and practices, developed and continually refined by cohorts of student researchers, shape how we conduct research, collaborate with one another, and engage with the communities we serve.
Engagement Practices
Flow
Researchers cultivate what psychologists call “optimal experiences,” a deep sense of flow, a heightened mental state in which they are completely absorbed in a single activity, experiencing intense focus, full involvement, and concentration. This elevated state is often characterized by a loss of self-awareness and a distorted sense of time, leading to a feeling of “being in the zone” while performing a task. It is a positive psychological state in which the challenge of the activity aligns well with the researcher’s skills and values.
Creativity
We value play as a research strategy and a way to cultivate a generative, restorative mood. We actively foster a creative environment that challenges people while helping them feel at ease. We believe human expression is fundamental to our collective evolution.
Mental Flexibility
We foster a culture of openness and a willingness to adapt to new challenges and uncertainties. We cultivate the character strength of seeking to understand other people’s perspectives, aware that understanding need not imply agreement. We take pride in our ability to shift our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors in response to changing circumstances.
Freedom of Thought
The AI Ethics Lab does not seek to impose uniformity of thought on what is and is not ethical in the use of artificial intelligence. We value independent thinking and self-differentiated perspectives. Freedom of thought does not lead to moral relativism, but rather to a diversity of ideas reflecting a plurality of moral commitments.
Relational Practices
Belonging
When people feel they matter and belong in their workplace, they report greater life satisfaction and higher levels of subjective well-being. Colleagues at the AI Ethics Lab cultivate a sense of belonging by helping people feel seen, valued, and supported, and by encouraging open dialogue across differences. We co-create an environment where people contribute to a common purpose, knowing that they belong to a research community and a larger cause to advance responsible technology.
Collegiality
Researchers prioritize co-creating a supportive, collegial environment that fosters camaraderie. Collegiality is experienced when everyone contributes to cooperative professional interactions among colleagues, in a spirit of mutual support, working together toward a common goal.
Hospitality
The AI Ethics Lab is known for being a hospitable environment where everyone, regardless of rank or title, contributes to a friendly culture, going out of their way to welcome guests and visitors and help them feel that they matter and belong.
Ethical Commitments
Honesty
We value honesty, integrity, and trust. This includes being truthful in our research statements and providing source material to justify our positions in the spirit of intellectual honesty. We apply these virtues in our research and in our interactions with one another, our collaborators, and the public.
Humility
There is no sense of pretense or self-importance at the AI Ethics Lab. We are grateful for the opportunity to work through big ideas and bring a sense of humility and curiosity to all that we do. We take pride in asking for help and seeking out training and support for items both big and small.
Resilience
Mistakes happen, and that’s okay. In fact, they are important to our personal and professional growth. Researchers foster a culture of resilience, acknowledging hiccups and supporting one another in recovering from setbacks. Our goal is not to practice perfectionism; it is to learn and unlearn what is needed.
Transparency
We seek to make our research methods and ways of thinking transparent to promote replicability. This means we set clear goals, articulate distinct roles and responsibilities, and are transparent about the methods we use to achieve those objectives so that others can understand and replicate these processes.