The 2024 Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE) Annual Conference, held online from September 27-29, brought together experts to discuss groundbreaking topics such as consciousness and UFO phenomena. A notable highlight was Mark Boccuzzi’s presentation, “Ethical Innovation: AI-Driven Solutions for Bridging the IRB Gap in Edge Science Research.”
Boccuzzi introduced the Human Participant Protection Program (HPPP), an AI-powered system designed to provide independent researchers with ethical review processes, traditionally governed by institutional review boards (IRBs). This system offers an unbiased assessment of participant protection, consent, and data privacy, making it accessible for those in fields like consciousness studies.
He discussed how the HPPP, paired with the Preregistration Database, ensures transparency in research by allowing preregistration of ethical reviews. While AI simplifies evaluations, Boccuzzi also addressed potential challenges such as biases and ethical complexities, proposing human oversight and diverse training data as solutions.
Boccuzzi’s talk highlighted AI’s growing role in supporting responsible research in unconventional scientific fields, merging AI and human oversight for future ethical rigor.
For more information on the 2024 SSE Conference, visit the official page.
