Programs
The AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University-Camden is dedicated to cultivating the public’s understanding of the ethical and legal implications of artificial intelligence. As an international research team, our experts study AI’s impact at every stage of its lifecycle, providing insights into how stakeholders across sectors of society can foster responsible AI development and deployment.
The AI Ethics Lab offers a range of research and educational services designed to advance the ethical use of AI across academia, nonprofit organizations, government, and industry.
Examples include:
- Academia: The AI Ethics Lab has research collaborations with scholars from the Institute for Ethics in AI at the Technical University of Munich and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where Dr. Walker serves as a non-resident research associate. Dr. Walker has served as a visiting academic at the University of Oxford‘s Institute for Ethics in AI and has given invited talks at Columbia University, Virginia Tech, and Utah Valley University.
- NGOs: UN Ambassador Prof. Muhammadou M. O. Kah, Ph.D., is a Visiting Scholar at the AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University. The lab co-published a human rights report presented at the Human Rights Council, and Dr. Walker helped moderate a North-South policy dialogue on the proposed UN Convention on AI, Data and Human Rights. He has also served as a contributing researcher to the Aspen Institute’s “Defining Technologies of Our Time” initiative.
- Governments: The AI Ethics Lab conducts research on regulatory trends at the local, state, national, and international levels, including publishing the AI & Human Rights Index. Dr. Walker’s research on AI Principles & U.S. Presidents maps the ethical implications in federal executive orders.
- Governments: The AI Ethics Lab conducts research on regulatory trends at the local, state, national, and international levels, including publishing the AI & Human Rights Index. Dr. Walker’s research on AI Principles & U.S. Presidents maps the ethical implications in federal executive orders.
Is “smart” the best we can imagine for this century’s technology? Or should we be striving for something more?
Many of the harms caused by artificial intelligence are not due to a lack of intelligence. They are failures of the imagination.
They come from the moral distance between those who build and regulate AI systems and the people whose lives they affect.
Think of the distance between a product developed in one culture and the people living with its impact in another. Think of the psychological distance between those designing AI companions and the children who use them.
I founded the AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University to help close those gaps. How?
We train leaders across sectors to practice moral imagination: the ability to step into an ethical dilemma and understand multiple perspectives. And understanding need not imply agreement.
Through role-plays and case studies, leaders uncover blind spots before those moral gaps become real harms.
Our goal is simple. Embed ethical decision-making across the AI lifecycle, from development to deployment.
When we cultivate empathy, especially for the most vulnerable, we bridge that moral distance. We move from building smart tech to empowering humans to make wise choices.
~ Dr. Nathan C. Walker
Founder, AI Ethics Lab
Moral Imagination Exchange (MIX)
AI Ethics: Not a Checklist. A Way of Life.
The Moral Imagination Exchange (MIX) is a series of applied-ethics workshops that support founders and leaders of AI-driven companies, preparing them to not only mitigate real harms they may face.
Through case studies and role plays, leaders practice moral imagination, the ability to situate themselves in the middle of an ethical dilemma and see multiple perspectives.
The MIX Case Studies serve as multi-sector simulations that train participants in applied AI ethics.
During the MIX Socratic Seminars founders present their AI product and business plan to stakeholders from a variety of disciplines and societal sectors.
These seminars function like a dissertation defense or collegial review circle, where founders engage stakeholders in deliberation about ethical risks, responsibilities, and opportunities.
Decision Infrastructure for the AI Lifecycle (DIAL)
Comprehensive AI Governance
The Moral Imagination Exchange concludes with exercises that support founders in developing their company’s Decision Infrastructure for the AI Lifecycle (DIAL).
Their DIAL proposal articulates how their company can SEE by building Sustained Ethical Ecosystems through ethical reasoning across the AI lifecycle.
Special attention is given to the investment and design stages, as well as the development and training. Applied AI ethics does not simply stop at deployment, but is a continuous process that considers the use, monitoring, and updating of its products.
The ultimate objective of MIX and DIAL is to support founders and leaders of AI-driven products to build ethics-by-design companies.
In doing so, they not only prevent harm but create AI systems that the public can trust.
Join the Conversation
We offer a range of interactive workshops for public and private stakeholders that build upon our core values, timely research, and accessible publications while also providing student researchers with meaningful opportunities to develop their presentation skills and showcase their research contributions.
Engaging Alumni
We invite Rutgers University graduates to join us for online and onsite events that explore technology’s moral and societal implications. These continuing education programs showcase our latest research and foster discussions about the responsible tech movement and its impact across societal sectors.
Empowering Educators
AI is a disruptive technology redefining education at every level, from K-12 classrooms to higher education. Our workshops offer best practices for ethical AI use in teaching, learning, and academic research. These programs, led by Dr. Nathan C. Walker, a specialist in education law and technology, help educators navigate AI’s challenges and opportunities.
Supporting Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders
Public charities, foundations, and service organizations are vital in shaping responsible AI adoption. Our training programs provide clear pathways for nonprofits to understand AI’s societal impact, ensuring their missions and ethical commitments remain at the forefront of technology integration.
Equipping Public Sector Leaders
Advancing AI Ethics in Industry
AI governance is no longer optional—it is a competitive advantage that enhances a company’s reputation, compliance, and consumer trust. Drawing from Dr. Walker’s work as a Certified AI Ethics Officer, our corporate workshops and AI ethics-to-industry programs help executives navigate AI’s risks and compliance challenges when integrating AI into their operations and product development.
Schedule a Meeting
To learn more or schedule a workshop, contact Dr. Nathan C. Walker, Principal Investigator of the AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University-Camden.