---
title: "Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies"
chunk: 2/3
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:23:31.273040+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== Recent developments (2016 – present) ==
In 2016, IEET started to work with other universities on research projects to expand its research programs and reach more audiences. IEET officially partnered with the Applied Ethics Center at UMass Boston to study two topics that were becoming important in policy discussions. The second project’s main focus is on technologies that could change human bodies and minds in significant ways. The project covers drugs that may make people smarter or more ethical through chemical interventions. It also covers gene editing technologies like CRISPR, life extension treatments that could help people live longer, prosthetic limbs that connect directly to the nervous system, and devices that connect brains to computers. Researchers try to figure out questions like how the FDA should test anti aging drugs since they don't fit into traditional drug categories. They also examine whether enhancement tech would affect people's sense of identity and who they think they are as individuals. Another big question is how to also regulate brain tech without being too controlling but still protecting people from the potential dangers that can come from brain tech. One controversial question is whether technologies that change moral decisions should be used in prisons or courtrooms to rehabilitate criminals. IEET not only looks at the scientific possibilities, but also the ethical problems that come with the use of these technologies. Researchers also study how different countries approach regulation of human enhancement and also whether there should be international regulations for these types of technologies. In order to be able to support research programs like this, UMass Boston and IEET created three postdoctoral fellowship positions that would focus specifically on these topics. Funding would be provided for the people in the fellowships for early career researchers to spend time developing their expertise in technology ethics while producing academic work. Researchers have published academic papers covering subjects such as how AI relates to practical wisdom and the ability to make good decisions in complex situations. There are also policy reports about AI therapy chatbots and whether they should be regulated like medical devices. But, not only do researchers write for conferences but they also write for general audiences such as regular people who can also understand the ethical questions about new technologies. Their articles ask whether schools can prepare students for automation and what kind of education will be needed in the future. They also talk about how AI stops people from making genuine choices by predicting what they want and limiting their options. They then present their research at academic conferences and policy workshops to share their findings with both scholars and policymakers who are working on technology regulation. They combine solid research with hands-on policy analysis to address real problems that governments and companies face when dealing with emerging technologies. IEET expanded internationally in 2024 in order to connect more researchers and policymakers in different regions. During this time, The Ethics and Emerging Technologies at the University of Turin in Italy was also established by the IEET, to establish a presence in Europe. They study ethical problems that come from emerging tech and how different European countries approach technology regulation. The main focus is for keeping technology human centered as well as understanding technologies from multiple perspectives including philosophy, law, and social science. IEET tackles tech ethics as a global problem and works on making AI systems trustworthy and work well with people’s values. People are trained through fellowship programs and workshops, producing research that is useful for policymakers globally who are creating new technology regulations. Steven Umbrello is the managing director of the Ethics and Emerging Technologies at the University of Turin and oversees the research programs and fellowship activities. There are many collaborations including universities, governments, and different companies from around the world to understand how technology ethics plays a role in different regulatory contexts. The Ethics and Emerging Technologies at the University of Turin allows IEET to compare how European countries regulate technology differently from the USA and other regions. Therefore, better international rules for emerging technologies can be created. The organization's leader, James Hughes is the executive director and co-founder. He provides overall plans for IEET's research programs and partnerships. Steven Umbrello is the managing director. He handles day to day operations and oversees the fellowship programs and research initiatives. Marcelo Rinsei is the chief technology officer making sure the organization understands new technologies correctly and can provide accurate analysis of technical developments. In 2025, UNESCO added IEET to its database of civil society organizations working on AI ethics and policy. This addition of IEET confirms that IEET is recognized internationally as a voice in technology ethics debates and policy discussions, giving the organization more visibility in international discussion. The IEET works on making sure that new technologies help people and society rather than cause harm such as researching to make sure to look at both the benefits and the risks. The team strives to keep their partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, and international organizations. This helps create better international rules for emerging technologies. Between 2020 and 2025, IEET has supported researchers through fellowship programs that focus on different aspects of technology ethics. Alec Stubbs completed a fellowship program where he studied how automation and how AI might change employment and what policies could help workers adapt to these changes. Fellowship in human enhancement biology was also awarded to Cristiano Cali, where his research examined the ethical and biological issues surrounding technologies that have the potential to alter human capacities. Lastly, Cody Turner also established a fellowship to study human thought and artificial intelligence. His main focus was on the implications for society of how artificial intelligence systems digest information differently than humans. IEET's blog has been moved to Substack which changed how the organization shares content with readers. This makes it much easier for people to read their articles and research and subscribe to updates when new content gets posted. The platform allows writers to publish longer essays rather than normal blog formats, which ultimately gives them more space to explain in depth ethical questions about technology. Writers can also interact with readers through comments and discussions which creates conversations between researchers and the public. The move to Substack happened because the organization wanted to reach more people and make content easier to access on different devices including phones and tablets. For the purpose of increasing the amount of people who could access their work without paying subscription fees, the IEET published several research papers for free to the public online in 2024. Human enhancement, reproductive ethics, and quantum technology were covered as the range of topics the researchers studied. Some of the online papers discussed topics such as whether parents should be allowed to use gene editing on their children, or how quantum computers might affect privacy and security. IEET's goal is to make technology ethics available to not just universities or organizations, but to everyone such as students. Policymakers, journalists, and students can download the free papers to read and learn on different viewpoints on technological ethics.