Opinion. Fernando Gómez, Techinal Manager European Funds at Euro-Funding, reflects on the ethical use of AI in European R&D projects.
Artificial Intelligence has established itself as one of the most transformative technologies in science and innovation globally. According to Ray Kurzweil in his book The singularity is closerAI will experience exponential development in the coming years, driven by cost reduction and improved calculation efficiency. As the technology evolves, we will see its convergence with other emerging technologies, such as biotechnology and neuroscience. However, these advances will also bring significant challenges related to ethics, security and privacywhich will require rigorous regulation and a responsible approach to maximize their positive impact on society.
In the European context, AI offers a unique opportunity to improve competitiveness against the United States and China, accelerate the transfer of research results to the market, and address complex challenges in areas such as health, agriculture, energy, social sciences, governance, cybersecurity, education and climate change. The European Union has led the regulation of AI, with policies such as the “AI Act” that establish a regulatory framework to guarantee the ethical development and deployment of the technology. These initiatives seek to ensure that AI is powerful, but also respectful of the fundamental values of European society, such as human rights and sustainability.
AI-based tools are transforming the way researchers and companies address social challenges. In healthcare, advanced AI systems such as deep learning models are improving disease diagnosis from medical images, predicting health risks, accelerating drug discovery, and developing personalized treatments. Furthermore, the possibility of carrying out “virtual” clinical trials without the need for real patients poses a new era in the validation of treatments.
In this environment, R&D projects in Europe are adopting AI as a cross tool that improves efficiency in research, from the prediction of results to the automation of tasks, massive data analysis and the development of innovative solutions in all areas of science and industry. However, AI adoption also faces significant challenges. Technological complexity, biases in AI models, and lack of transparency in some systems raise concerns about equity, privacy, and fairness in results. Europe must ensure that its investments in AI not only lead in terms of technological capacity, but also in creating an ecosystem that promotes public trust and encourage collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The challenge is twofold. Maximize the potential of AI to generate advances in key sectors, while at the same time, ensure its ethical userespecting the fundamental rights and privacy of individuals in any decision-making. EU legislation, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the AI Act, play a crucial role in balancing these interests.
Ethical and safety aspects
One of the main challenges of using AI in R&D is guaranteeing its ethical, reliable and safe use. AI must meet high standards of transparency, explainability and human control. This means that the algorithms are auditable, their decisions understandable, and the privacy implications clear. The EU has established key principles, such as respect for human autonomy and prevention of harm, that should guide the development of trustworthy AI systems.
In terms of securityAI systems must be robust and resistant to attacks, protecting both personal data and the results generated. This is especially important in research environments, where data integrity is critical to system sustainability.
The future of AI R&D in Europe is full of potential, but also presents complexities. As technology advances, it is essential that ethics, security and privacy experts are involved in the development and deployment of AI systems. Have a clear ethical framework and robust regulations will be crucial to maintaining high quality standards in scientific research and ensuring that AI is used responsibly.
References:
1. Ethical Guidelines on the Use of AI in Education and Training (European Commission, 2022): This source establishes guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in the educational field, addressing both the benefits of AI and the ethical and safety challenges. In particular, it focuses on the importance of transparency, equity and the protection of fundamental rights. The guidelines also propose a regulatory framework for AI systems, which align with EU policies on privacy and data protection.
2. Guidelines for Trustworthy AI (European Commission High Level Expert Group, 2018): These guidelines establish a framework for ethical and robust AI, based on fundamental ethical principles such as human autonomy, prevention of harm and equity. They provide guidance on how to develop, deploy and use AI systems in a trustworthy and responsible manner, highlighting the importance of ensuring technical reliability and human oversight.
3. Living Guidelines on the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Research (European Commission, 2025): This document focuses on the responsible use of generative AI in research, highlighting key principles such as reliability, honesty, respect for the rights of research participants and the responsibility of researchers. The recommendations also address the appropriate management of privacy, confidentiality and intellectual property rights, while promoting sustainability in the use of AI in scientific research.
4. Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content (European Commission, 2025): Code of Practice aimed at ensuring transparency in content generated by AI, in accordance with Article 50 of the AI Law.
Opinion article by Fernando Gómez, Techinal Manager European Funds at Euro-Funding
