1. Flow. Researchers at the AI Ethics Lab seek to experience 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, essentially “being in the zone” while performing a task. It is considered a positive psychological state where the challenge of the activity aligns well with one’s skills and values.
2. Creativity. The AI Ethics Lab actively creates a creative environment with the objective of nurturing everyone’s sense of belonging and making people feel at ease. We value play as both a research strategy and a way to create a generative and restorative mood.
3. Mental Flexibility. The AI Ethics Lab fosters 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 the ability to shift our thoughts, perspectives, and behaviors in response to changing circumstances.
4. Freedom of Thought. The AI Ethics Lab does not seek to force uniformity of thought about what is and is not ethical about using artificial intelligence. We value independent thinking and self-differentiated perspectives. This does not result in moral relativism but rather a diversity of ideas that reflect a plurality of moral commitments.
5. Collegiality. Researchers at the AI Ethics Lab prioritize creating a supportive and collegial environment, fostering a culture of camaraderie. Collegiality is experienced when everyone contributes to cooperative professional interactions among co-workers in a spirit where different members of a team work together toward a common goal.
6. 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.
7. Honesty. The AI Ethics Lab values the ethics of honesty, integrity, and trust. This includes being truthful with 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 our interactions with one another, our partners, and the public.
8. 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 big and small.
9. Resilience. Mistakes happen, and that’s okay. In fact, they’re important to our personal and professional growth. The researchers at the AI Ethics Lab actively create a culture of resilience, acknowledging hiccups and supporting one another to recover from setbacks. Our goal is not to practice perfectionism; our goal is to learn and unlearn things that are needed.
10. Transparency. As researchers, we seek to make our methods and ways of thinking transparent with the goal of 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 replicate these steps if needed.
