A New Tool Designed to Assess AI Ethics in Medicine Developed at HSE University
A team of researchers at the HSE AI Research Centre has created an index to evaluate the ethical standards of artificial intelligence (AI) systems used in medicine. This tool is designed to minimise potential risks and promote safer development and implementation of AI technologies in medical practice.
The rapid expansion of AI technologies across various areas of life, including medicine, has brought about new risks that go beyond information security, economic, or social concerns and extend into ethical challenges as well. Current standards and regulatory frameworks do not adequately address ethical considerations, making it essential to develop a specialised tool for evaluating AI systems from an ethical standpoint.
The team behind the 'Ethical Review in the Field of AI' project at the HSE AI Research Centre carried out comprehensive work in two phases: theoretical and practical. First, the researchers conducted a thorough review of numerous domestic and international documents to identify and define the key principles of professional medical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, justice, non-maleficence, and due care. Subsequently, a qualitative field study using in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted among medical professionals and AI developers, which allowed the team to refine and actualise the initial principles and to add new ones.
Based on the study results, the researchers developed the Index of AI Systems Ethics in Medicine —a chatbot that allows for 24/7 self-assessment and provides instant feedback from the index developers. The assessment methodology includes a test with closed-ended questions designed to evaluate the awareness of both medical AI developers and AI system operators regarding the ethical risks associated with the development, implementation, and use of AI systems for medical purposes.
The new methodology has been piloted and endorsed by a number of leading IT companies, such as MeDiCase and Globus IT, specialising in the development of AI solutions for medicine. Additionally, it has been approved by the Commission for the Implementation of the AI Ethics Code and the Moscow City Scientific Society of General Practitioners.
'The development of this index is a significant step toward ensuring ethical use of AI in medicine. We hope that the solution we have developed will be valuable to the medical community, which, as our research shows, is concerned about the potential negative ethical consequences of the widespread integration of AI into medical practice,' according to Anastasia Ugleva, Project Head, Professor, Deputy Director of the Centre for Transfer and Management of Socio-Economic Information at HSE University.
The index is expected to be sought after by ethics committees, the forensic medical expert community, and other organisations responsible for evaluating and certifying AI. It will also support the shift from the principle of sole responsibility of a medical professional to a model of shared responsibility among all participants in the process. The introduction of this index will help make AI usage safer and more aligned with high ethical standards.
The methodology guidelines The Index of AI Systems Ethics in Medicine are registered at HSE University as intellectual property (IP), No.8.0176-2023.
See also:
Independent Experts More Effective Than Collective Expertise in Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
A collaborative study by Sergey Stepanov, Associate Professor at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, and experts from INSEAD Business School and NYU Shanghai, indicates that in making decisions under high uncertainty, where it is unclear which choice is superior, advice from independent experts may be more beneficial than a collective opinion from a group of experts. The study has been published in Games and Economic Behavior.
HSE Researchers Uncover Causes of Gender Pay Gap among Recent University Graduates in Russia
A study conducted at HSE University shows that despite having the same education and similar starting conditions, the pay gap between male and female recent graduates can be as high as 22%. This is partly because female students often choose less lucrative fields and also because they tend to seek jobs in sectors that offer lower pay but are perceived to have more stable and safer working conditions.
Scientists at HSE University Devise More Accurate Method for Predicting the Electrical Conductivity of Electrolyte Solutions
Researchers at HSE MIEM have developed a model for calculating the electrical conductivity of aqueous electrolyte solutions; for the first time, it considers the spatial distribution of ion charges instead of assuming their localisation at a single point. The model remains effective even at high electrolyte concentrations and across a wide temperature range. This breakthrough will contribute to the development of more efficient batteries and enable the calculation of electrical conductivity without the need for experimental testing. The study has been published in the Journal of Chemical Physics.
‘Many Want to Create AI-Based Products and Become More Competitive’
In 2024, the online Russian-taught master’s programme ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ offered by the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, saw a record number of first-year students—over 300. What accounts for such a high interest in AI, how the curriculum is structured, and what new skills will graduates acquire? Elena Kantonistova, the programme’s academic director, shares more.
Russian Scientists Integrate Microdisk Laser and Waveguide on a Single Substrate
A group of Russian scientists led by Professor Natalia Kryzhanovskaya at HSE Campus in St Petersburg has been researching microdisk lasers with an active region based on arsenide quantum dots. For the first time, researchers have successfully developed a microdisk laser coupled with an optical waveguide and a photodetector on a single substrate. This design enables the implementation of a basic photonic circuit on the same substrate as the radiation source (microlaser). In the future, this will help speed up data transfer and reduce equipment weight without compromising quality. The study results have been published in Semiconductors.
'I Would Like to Leave a Lasting Impact on Science'
Aibek Alanov pursues his own scientific research and leads two teams of scientists, one at HSE University and the other at AIRI. In this interview for the HSE Young Scientists project, he explores the parallels between today's AI researchers and early 20th-century physicists, discusses generative models, and shares his passion for bachata partner dancing.
Scientists Disprove Bunkbed Conjecture
Mathematicians from Russia, including two HSE graduates, have disproven a well-known mathematical conjecture that, despite lacking solid proof, had been considered valid for 40 years. The ‘Bunkbed Conjecture’ belongs to percolation theory—a branch of mathematics that studies the formation of connected structures in independent environments.
Men Behind the Wheel: Three Times More Violations and Accidents than Women
Men are three times more likely than women to commit traffic violations while driving and to be involved in accidents. Moreover, they are more likely to create situations on the road that are highly dangerous to others. Men are also twice as likely to drive under the influence and nearly one-third more likely to receive a prison sentence for reckless driving. Perhaps it comes down to cultural norms and the different attitudes men and women have toward driving. These are the conclusions reached by Anton Kazun, Assistant Professor at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, and Research Assistant Mikhail Belov.
HSE Scientists Discover How to Predict Charitable Behaviour Through Physiological Reactions
Researchers at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience have investigated how the emotional impact of advertising affects the amount people willing to donate to support animal welfare. To accomplish this, the researchers measured physiological responses such as heart rate, electrodermal activity, and facial expressions in individuals viewing various photos of dogs. The findings indicate that willingness to donate is most accurately predicted by heart rate and facial muscle activation. The study has been published in Social Psychology.
'We Are Creating the Medicine of the Future'
Dr Gerwin Schalk is a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai and a partner of the HSE Centre for Language and Brain within the framework of the strategic project 'Human Brain Resilience.' Dr Schalk is known as the creator of BCI2000, a non-commercial general-purpose brain-computer interface system. In this interview, he discusses modern neural interfaces, methods for post-stroke rehabilitation, a novel approach to neurosurgery, and shares his vision for the future of neurotechnology.