Ethical guidance for brain-inspired AI research
Who I helped
In the EXTRA-BRAIN project (Explainable Trustworthy AI for Data Intensive Applications), funded under Horizon Europe, I serve as the Ethics Advisor. The consortium develops brain-inspired neural networks (BLNNs) to advance neuromorphic computing and make AI systems more energy-efficient, explainable and trustworthy.
My role is to ensure that research and innovation activities follow EU ethical standards, comply with data protection law, AI regulations and are aligned with the concept of Trustworthy AI.
Project webpage: https://www.extra-brain.eu/
Context and challenge
The project integrates AI into three use cases — rescue robotics, digital finance and telecommunications – each involving complex data pipelines and potential ethical risks.
The consortium needed support in:
- managing data governance across use cases,
- preparing ethics reviews,
- translating EU regulations into practical steps for researchers,
- building a shared culture of responsible innovation across technical teams.
What I did
- conducted an ethical assessment of all use cases and provided actionable recommendations,
- prepared the Ethics Report for the European Commission, documenting compliance and proposing improvements,
- supported in developing and updating the Data Management Plan, ensuring proper legal and ethical safeguards,
- introduced ALTAI self-assessment tools and checklists for partners to identify and mitigate risks early,
- participated in project meetings and workshops to ensure that ethics remained a living part of the project’s work, not a bureaucratic exercise.
Results and value
- the project maintains compliance with EU ethical standards,
- the consortium is building a practical system to ensure continuous ethics monitoring throughout the project,
- partners gained clear guidance and ready-to-use tools for managing AI risks,
- ethics became an integral part of project management and communication,
- trust and collaboration within the consortium strengthened through explainability methods.
Summary / invitation
In EXTRA-BRAIN, I combine legal, ethical, and technical perspectives to make ethics a practical part of AI innovation.
If your consortium needs support in implementing ethics-by-design and ensuring compliance without slowing innovation – let’s connect.
