The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

At the Monash Bioethics Centre, our research spans across four primary programs—reproduction, neuroscience, infectious diseases, and virtue ethics. In addition to these areas, we focus on interdisciplinary topics, including the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and its broader implications across multiple industries. Our team integrates both theoretical and empirical approaches to examine AI's impact, ethical challenges, and regulatory concerns in society.

The Centre also coordinates The Ethics of AI elective at the University, which draws from moral and political philosophy to critically assess the role AI should play in various domains. This unit explores pressing issues such as the ethics of AI in healthcare, the moral decisions of autonomous vehicles, AI's role in criminal sentencing, the potential for machine consciousness, and the regulation of dual-use AI technologies—those that can have both beneficial and harmful applications. Through this work, we aim to guide policymakers, technology companies, and individuals in responding thoughtfully to the ethical complexities of AI.

Outputs

Reports

Johnston, M., Koplin, J., Mills, C., Whittaker, A., Webb, ANS. (2024). Recommendations for the ethical implementation of machine learning tools for embryo assessment in Australian ART clinics. Monash University. Report. https://doi.org/10.26180/27625860.v1

Journal Articles

Koplin, JJ., Johnston, M., Webb, ANS., Whittaker, A., Mills, C. “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Embryo Assessment: Mapping the Terrain” Human Reproduction (under review)

Webb, ANS., Johnston, M., Whittaker, A., Mills, C. “Two Sides of the Same Algorithm: ART Professionals’ and Patients’ Views on the use of AI for Embryo Assessment in Australia (in development)

Presentations

Johnston, M., Webb, ANS., Whittaker, A., Mills, C. Recommendations for the Ethical Implementation of Machine Learning Tools for Embryo Assessment. Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference.

Johnston, M. Ethical and Empirical Considerations Regarding the Use of Machine Learning Tools in ART Clinics. No. 1 Fertility Embryologist Education Day.

Mills, C.  Artificial Intelligence for Embryo Selection: Ethical, Social, and Regulatory Issues. SIRT Annual Conference

Webb, ANS., Johnston, M., Koplin, JJ., Whittaker, A., Mills, C. “Two Sides of the Same Algorithm: ART Professionals’ and Patients’ Views on the Use of AI for Embryo Assessment in Australia.  Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference.

Mills, C., Johnston, M., Koplin, JJ., Whittaker, A. Algorithmic Babies: The Ethics of Machine Learning for Embryo Selection. Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand Conference.

Mills, C., Johnston, M., Koplin, JJ. Artificial Intelligence for Embryo Selection: Ethical, Social, and Regulatory Issues.  European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology Conference.