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Latest news from the alignAI doctoral network:
Shaping Ethical AI for the Global South: Reflections from AIFOD 2025 at the UN Vienna
The current progress and ongoing evolution of the AI industry do not parallel the ongoing efforts of the world in general and developing countries in particular, to stand steadfast against the challenges that AI brings with its evolution. As a doctoral candidate in the AlignAI Doctoral Network (MSCA), Mohaned Bahr participated as a special delegate at the AIFOD Forum Summer Summit. In this blog he reflects on the outcomes and discussions from the plenary sessions, roundtables and parallel side events.
From Checklists to Care: Rethinking “Ethical AI” in Mental Health
“Is it fair?” “Is it explainable?” “Is it safe?” These are the questions commonly used to evaluate AI systems. In mental health, they seem especially relevant. Ethical guidelines, audit tools and compliance checklists promise trustworthy AI. But how helpful are these tools when emotional nuance and personal vulnerability come into play?
Designing the Divine and Meditating with Machines
What does it look like when we try to design the divine? How do we meditate with machines? These questions were the focus of the TUM Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (IEAI) Speaker Series on July 16, 2025, titled “Meditating With Machines: When Spiritual Symbols Meet Augmented Reality”, hosted by Prof. Patrick Hung, Professor at Ontario Tech University. Dr. Auxane Boch, Research Associate at the TUM IEAI and coordinator of the alignAI project, moderated the session. alignAI Doctoral Candidate Julia Li attended the session and reflected on the intersection between spirituality, culture and technology.
Exploring AI, Moral Advice and Human Decision-Making
As part of the TUM Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (IEAI) Speaker Series, the alignAI Doctoral Network joined a timely session on June 16, 2025, featuring Prof. Eyal Aharoni, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Philosophy and Psychology at Georgia State University. His talk, titled “Pandora’s Bots? Studies of AI Moral Advice and Their Implications for Human Decision-Making” was moderated by Dr. Franziska Poszler, Research Associate at the IEAI.
AI For Everybody – Preferences, Equity, Fairness and Why They Matter
Imagine an LLM tailor-made for your cultural context such as where you live, the language you speak and the values most important to you. You can depend on it to proofread your emails for tone and social faux pas, respond in everyday, colloquial language and give you relevant recommendations on how to navigate your relationships. You can trust it not to give awkward responses that could put you in a compromised position and to understand the subtle nuances in human interaction vital to help you navigate everyday life.
alignAI and European Cooperation in Research and Innovation at Fsas Technologies Summit 2025
As alignAI candidates under the MSCA Doctoral Network program, we all have a shared interest in learning more about the landscape of technology and innovation within Europe. The Fsas Technologies Summit 2025 in Munich provided an excellent opportunity to engage with key topics and examples of data and IT solutions.