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:
HSE Neurolinguists Reveal What Makes Apps Effective for Aphasia Rehabilitation
Scientists at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have identified key factors that increase the effectiveness of mobile and computer-based applications for aphasia rehabilitation. These key factors include automated feedback, a variety of tasks within the application, extended treatment duration, and ongoing interaction between the user and the clinician. The article has been published in NeuroRehabilitation.
'Our Goal Is Not to Determine Which Version Is Correct but to Explore the Variability'
The International Linguistic Convergence Laboratory at the HSE Faculty of Humanities studies the processes of convergence among languages spoken in regions with mixed, multiethnic populations. Research conducted by linguists at HSE University contributes to understanding the history of language development and explores how languages are perceived and used in multilingual environments. George Moroz, head of the laboratory, shares more details in an interview with the HSE News Service.
Slim vs Fat: Overweight Russians Earn Less
Overweight Russians tend to earn significantly less than their slimmer counterparts, with a 10% increase in body mass index (BMI) associated with a 9% decrease in wages. These are the findings made by Anastasiia Deeva, lecturer at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences and intern researcher in Laboratory of Economic Research in Public Sector. The article has been published in Voprosy Statistiki.
Scientists Reveal Cognitive Mechanisms Involved in Bipolar Disorder
An international team of researchers including scientists from HSE University has experimentally demonstrated that individuals with bipolar disorder tend to perceive the world as more volatile than it actually is, which often leads them to make irrational decisions. The scientists suggest that their findings could lead to the development of more accurate methods for diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder in the future. The article has been published in Translational Psychiatry.
Scientists Develop AI Tool for Designing Novel Materials
An international team of scientists, including researchers from HSE University, has developed a new generative model called the Wyckoff Transformer (WyFormer) for creating symmetrical crystal structures. The neural network will make it possible to design materials with specified properties for use in semiconductors, solar panels, medical devices, and other high-tech applications. The scientists will present their work at ICML, a leading international conference on machine learning, on July 15 in Vancouver. A preprint of the paper is available on arxiv.org, with the code and data released under an open-source license.
‘Economic Growth Without the AI Factor Is No Longer Possible’
The International Summer Institute on AI in Education has opened in Shanghai. The event is organised by the HSE Institute of Education in partnership with East China Normal University (ECNU). More than 50 participants and key speakers from over ten countries across Asia, Europe, North and South America have gathered to discuss the use of AI technologies in education and beyond.
HSE Linguists Study How Bilinguals Use Phrases with Numerals in Russian
Researchers at HSE University analysed over 4,000 examples of Russian spoken by bilinguals for whom Russian is a second language, collected from seven regions of Russia. They found that most non-standard numeral constructions are influenced not only by the speakers’ native languages but also by how frequently these expressions occur in everyday speech. For example, common phrases like 'two hours' or 'five kilometres’ almost always match the standard literary form, while less familiar expressions—especially those involving the numerals two to four or collective forms like dvoe and troe (used for referring to people)—often differ from the norm. The study has been published in Journal of Bilingualism.
Overcoming Baby Duck Syndrome: How Repeated Use Improves Acceptance of Interface Updates
Users often prefer older versions of interfaces due to a cognitive bias known as the baby duck syndrome, where their first experience with an interface becomes the benchmark against which all future updates are judged. However, an experiment conducted by researchers from HSE University produced an encouraging result: simply re-exposing users to the updated interface reduced the bias and improved their overall perception of the new version. The study has been published in Cognitive Processing.
Mathematicians from HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod Prove Existence of Robust Chaos in Complex Systems
Researchers from the International Laboratory of Dynamical Systems and Applications at the HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod have developed a theory that enables a mathematical proof of robust chaotic dynamics in networks of interacting elements. This research opens up new possibilities for exploring complex dynamical processes in neuroscience, biology, medicine, chemistry, optics, and other fields. The study findings have been accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters, a leading international journal. The findings are available on arXiv.org.
Mathematicians from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod Solve 57-Year-Old Problem
In 1968, American mathematician Paul Chernoff proposed a theorem that allows for the approximate calculation of operator semigroups, complex but useful mathematical constructions that describe how the states of multiparticle systems change over time. The method is based on a sequence of approximations—steps which make the result increasingly accurate. But until now it was unclear how quickly these steps lead to the result and what exactly influences this speed. This problem has been fully solved for the first time by mathematicians Oleg Galkin and Ivan Remizov from the Nizhny Novgorod campus of HSE University. Their work paves the way for more reliable calculations in various fields of science. The results were published in the Israel Journal of Mathematics (Q1).