About IEAI

TUM has long been a driving force in researching the mutual interactions of science, technology and society. Founded in 2019, the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (IEAI) follows TUM’s strategy for “Human-Centered Engineering”.

The IEAI conducts inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary research that promotes active collaboration between the technical, engineering and social sciences, while also actively courting interaction with a wide group of international stakeholders from academia, industry and civil society. This exhaustive approach enables the IEAI to truly and comprehensively address a growing group of ethical challenges arising at the interface of technology and human values. It also aids in the development of thoroughly operational ethical frameworks in the field of AI.

Our Mission

The increasing involvement of technology in almost every aspect of society has already brought about fundamental change in an unprecedented scope of areas. It goes without question that AI already has and will continue to transform society substantially within the course of our lifetimes. The most pressing question now is how this societal transformation will take place, and what the repercussions will be.

The IEAI’s research poses questions such as, “What should be possible in AI?,” and “How can we ensure that as many people as possible benefit from AI’s rewards?” Its foremost priority is the generation of global, egalitarian and interdisciplinary guidelines for the ethical development and implementation of AI.

Through promoting research and providing a platform for academics and practitioners alike, the IEAI fosters the integration of ethical and societal priorities into the development of fundamentally integrative AI technologies and approaches.

Our Research Methodology

Inter- and cross-disciplinary research is integral to the IEAI. It combines scientific expertise with in depth employment of the social sciences to truly and comprehensively address the impending challenges posed by AI.

Our Challenges

The IEAI’s research addresses challenges such as:

  • Ethics, fairness, and diversity

  • Governance and regulation

  • Privacy

  • Public discourse

  • Safety

  • Social responsibility and sustainability

  • Transparency and accountability

In its role as a platform for meaningful cooperation between industry, civil society and academia,  the IEAI organizes events, workshops, conferences and seminars to promote exchange between a wide range of important stakeholders.

The IEAI also supports and participates in several networks related to AI ethics. By joining forces with researchers and practitioners worldwide, the IEAI is able to address real-world challenges and contribute to the broader conversations and concerns surrounding ethics and AI on an international level.

The IEAI operates through support from corporate partners, research funding agencies, TUM and the Bavarian Government. We are continuously building and strengthening our cooperations with a growing group of private, public and international organisations. Through these efforts, the IEAI is able to finance, foster and conduct independent, game-changing research into wide-reaching, ethical and responsible applications for AI.

Past and current supporters and partners include, among others, Meta, Fujitsu, Horizons Europe, The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), IEEE, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, TÜV SÜD, IBM and Munich Re.