SERAF is one of the first research institutes in Norway to dedicate a full half-day to applied AI ethics. We brought in AI ethics expert (and former SERAF PhD!) Ley Muller of Values-driven AI to our summer seminar. We took a distinctly bottom-up approach: rather than starting from external guidelines or abstract principles, we grounded the discussion in SERAF’s own goals, research practices, and aspirations, and then explored how AI tools could responsibly support these goals - and when we did not want to use AI. Together, we reviewed anonymous data on how employees are currently using generative AI, finding patterns similar to those seen internationally.
This summer seminar workshop also surfaced a strong desire for more training and ongoing dialogue. By centering ethical reflection in everyday research practice, the aim is to support both individual and institutional decisions about AI that are guided by the impact that SERAF wants to have.
Later in the afternoon, we also took a fascinating tour of Oslo's downtown with a focus on a life with substance use led by a guide from Gatestemmer.
This was an enriching end to the semester. We wish everyone a wonderful summer.