Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

With generative artificial intelligence tools being integrated into every aspect of life, there is ever-increasing dialogue about ethical concerns in this realm. Regulations and governance are difficult to implement since these are enacted in response to ethical situations arising. It is quite nearly impossible to anticipate every concerning outcome of the array of AI tools.

We are a self-assembled group of voluntary participants interested in AI-related research, clinical applications, policies, initiatives, and issues at UT Southwestern Medical Center. We are a multi-disciplinary body comprised of UTSW faculty, clinicians, trainees, staff, and students..

Goals

  • Be a liaison between various AI governance bodies including but not limited to AI in Healthcare Oversight Committee, Institutional Review Boards, executive leadership, various Offices, and departments at UTSW.

  • Create resources and curate events to bridge gaps in the realm of ethics in AI at UTSW.

  • Assist UTSW leadership with ethical AI governance as needed.

What we do

  • Facilitate open-ended discussions about the ethics of AI design, inherent biases, and downstream effects at UTSW and from UTSW to stakeholders like patients or employees.

  • Facilitate knowledge dissemination from institutional governance, leadership, and regulatory entities to UTSW employees, students, trainees, clinicians, and researchers.

  • Facilitate programmatic inclusion of ethics in AI in graduate and medical education.

  • Host periodic events to educate UTSW personnel about AI and its ethical implications in different contexts.

Ethics in AI Symposium

Fall 2025

We are delighted to bring our inaugural event to the UTSW community this Fall!
Details coming soon.

History

In 2023, the following members met for the first time to discuss the topic and exchange their views: Robert Toto, M.D., Gaudenz Danuser, Ph.D., Elizabeth Heitman, Ph.D., Thomas Dalton, Ph.D., Daniel Scott, M.D., Satwik Rajaram, Ph.D., Prapti Mody, Ph.D.

In May 2024, these core members invited other interested parties and hosted a discussion forum on ethics in AI. Read their session report here.

The group reconvened in August with a smaller attendance and brainstormed meeting frequency, discussion topics, and logistics.

Dr. Darlene King took over leadership for this group in 2025 along with Dr. Prapti Mody.

In February 2025, we discussed UTSW’s AI oversight committee & AI Taskforce groups, heard from Dr. Andrew Jamieson & Dr. Elizabeth Heitman about their experiences of reviewing research proposals involving AI as members of the IRB (Institutional Review Board).

A bimonthly series of meetings has been established for the remainder of 2025.

Read about AI governance

Global AI Law & Policy Tracker PDF

USA: January 2025 AI developments

Texas: TRAIGA (Texas Responsible AI Governance Act) PDF

The University of Texas System: AI in Healthcare collaborative: a UT-HIP initiative