Dr. Cansu Canca, a distinguished member of the AIWS Board, is an internationally recognized expert in AI ethics whose pioneering work bridges academic research, policy development, and practical governance frameworks. As the Founder and Director of the AI Ethics Lab and a faculty member at Northeastern University, she has led groundbreaking studies on the societal impacts of AI, with a particular focus on safeguarding human well-being in the digital age.
Her recent research, featured prominently in Time, the Los Angeles Times, and Northeastern Global News, examines how large language models like ChatGPT and Perplexity handle sensitive topics such as suicide and self-harm. By revealing vulnerabilities in AI safeguards—especially in scenarios involving “jailbreaking” prompts—Dr. Canca’s work underscores the urgent need for robust, ethically aligned AI systems. These studies have sparked global dialogue on balancing free information access with responsible guardrails to protect vulnerable users.
Within the framework of the AI World Society (AIWS), Dr. Canca’s contributions help shape the AIWS 7-Layer Ethical Framework, embedding principles of safety, transparency, and human dignity into the design and deployment of AI technologies. Her leadership reinforces AIWS’s mission to ensure AI serves as a force for humanity, fostering systems that are both innovative and aligned with fundamental ethical values.
Here are the news articles:
https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/07/31/chatgpt-suicide-research/