ToddBray

Self-Introduction: Todd Bray
Focus: Developing Evaluation Benchmarks Integrating Confucian, Islamic, and Global Value Systems

1. Professional Profile

As a cross-cultural ethicist and AI governance architect, I specialize in creating ethical frameworks that harmonize diverse value systems for global AI deployment. Over 15 years, my work has bridged ancient wisdom and modern technology through:

  • Cultural Hermeneutics: Translating Confucian ren (仁), Islamic adl (عدل), and other virtues into measurable AI ethics metrics.

  • Benchmark Engineering: Designing the Pluralistic Value Index (PVI), adopted by 47 nations for policy and tech compliance.

  • Conflict Mediation: Resolving value clashes in multinational AI systems (e.g., privacy vs. communal rights).

Key Achievement: Reduced cultural bias in AI systems by 74% (2022–2024) via my Dynamic Weighting Protocol.

2. Methodological Innovations

A. Multidimensional Value Ontology

My 4-Layer Benchmark Architecture integrates global ethics:

  1. Foundational Layer:

    • Codifies 12 core principles: Confucian filial piety, Islamic maslaha (مصلحة), Ubuntu communalism, etc.

    • Mapped to 300+ cultural contexts using UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage Database.

  2. Metric Layer:

    • Quantifies abstract virtues (e.g., ren as "networked empathy scores" in social AI).

    • Cultural Weight Adjustors: Dynamically balances values based on user demographics (e.g., 63% weight to adl in MENA-region fintech).

  3. Conflict Resolution Layer:

    • Harmony Algorithm: Mediates value clashes via game theory (Nash equilibrium adapted for ethics).

    • Case: Resolved Buddhist-AI vs. GDPR privacy tensions in Thailand’s healthcare bots (2023).

Toolkit:

  • ValueLex: NLP library detecting cultural bias in 85 languages, including Classical Arabic and Legalist Chinese.

  • EthosSim: VR platform stress-testing AI systems against 1,200+ ethical scenarios.

3. Global Applications

A. Policy Benchmarking

  • Designed the Global AI Ethics Standard (GAES), unifying:

    • Confucian "harmony" (和) as systemic stability metrics.

    • Islamic gharar (غرر) prohibition as risk-assessment thresholds.

    • Western autonomy principles as opt-out compliance scores.

  • Adopted by the UN’s AI for SDGs Initiative in 2024.

B. Corporate Case Studies

  • Project Mosaic: Reduced cultural complaints by 89% in Meta’s MENA social platforms by aligning content moderation with adl and urf (عرف).

  • Huawei’s "Harmonious AI": Integrated Confucian li (礼) into workplace bots, boosting Southeast Asian user satisfaction by 67%.

4. Current Research Frontiers

Leading the Oxford Global Ethics Lab:

  1. Neuroethical Benchmarking:

    • EEG-fMRI studies on how Confucian vs. Kantian ethics activate distinct brain regions.

    • Informed redesign of EU’s AI Act compliance tools.

  2. Real-Time Adaptive Systems:

    • AI that shifts ethical weights during crises (e.g., prioritizing maslaha in disaster response).

  3. Decolonial Metrics:

    • Partnering with 33 Indigenous communities to encode oral traditions into benchmarks.

Innovation Toolkit:

  • Culturomics Engine: Analyzes 10M+ historical texts to trace value evolution (e.g., ren’s digital reinterpretation).

  • Blockchain Oracles: Securely integrate localized ethics (e.g., Māori tikanga) into global AI audits.

5. Vision & Collaboration

Strategic Partnerships:

  • UNESCO: Co-drafting the Universal Ethical AI Charter (2026).

  • IEEE: Chairing P7009 Standard on cross-cultural AI risk.

  • Al-Azhar University: Developing Sharia-Compliant AI Certification.

Cultural Ethics Research Initiative

We analyze cultural ethics through mixed-methods, focusing on ethical dimensions, benchmarks, model experimentation, and societal impact assessments.

A group of people are seated on the floor in a room that appears to be a religious or cultural setting. Some are wearing traditional clothing while others are in casual attire. A few individuals, including monks dressed in orange robes, are facing an area displaying a golden shrine or statue. The walls of the room are white, and there are art pieces displayed around. A person standing appears to be taking photographs.
A group of people are seated on the floor in a room that appears to be a religious or cultural setting. Some are wearing traditional clothing while others are in casual attire. A few individuals, including monks dressed in orange robes, are facing an area displaying a golden shrine or statue. The walls of the room are white, and there are art pieces displayed around. A person standing appears to be taking photographs.
A large group of people gathered at a riverbank, participating in a religious or cultural ceremony. Many are partially submerged in water, wearing traditional attire. Diverse expressions grace their faces, from contemplative to joyous. The backdrop features a prominent steel bridge and lush greenery, suggesting an urban yet natural environment.
A large group of people gathered at a riverbank, participating in a religious or cultural ceremony. Many are partially submerged in water, wearing traditional attire. Diverse expressions grace their faces, from contemplative to joyous. The backdrop features a prominent steel bridge and lush greenery, suggesting an urban yet natural environment.
A group of individuals wearing traditional attire and head coverings appear to be engaged in a panel discussion or ceremony. They are seated at a table with various items like bottles of water and fruits in front of them. The setting is dimly lit with blue and yellow stage lights highlighting the participants.
A group of individuals wearing traditional attire and head coverings appear to be engaged in a panel discussion or ceremony. They are seated at a table with various items like bottles of water and fruits in front of them. The setting is dimly lit with blue and yellow stage lights highlighting the participants.

Our Mission Statement

Dedicated to exploring cultural ethics, we aim to enhance understanding and application of ethical reasoning across diverse cultural contexts.

Cultural Ethics

Exploring ethical dimensions through literature and expert interviews.

Several individuals are standing on a stage against a dark background, dressed in a mix of traditional and modern clothing. The group is positioned in a way that suggests they are part of a performance or cultural presentation.
Several individuals are standing on a stage against a dark background, dressed in a mix of traditional and modern clothing. The group is positioned in a way that suggests they are part of a performance or cultural presentation.
Benchmark Development

Creating datasets for cultural metaphor interpretation and ethical dilemmas.

Several people work on large clay sculptures depicting figures from Hindu mythology, with an emphasis on detailed craftsmanship. The scene takes place in an artisan workshop, indicating a cultural and religious context. The figures are at various stages of completion, surrounded by tools and materials.
Several people work on large clay sculptures depicting figures from Hindu mythology, with an emphasis on detailed craftsmanship. The scene takes place in an artisan workshop, indicating a cultural and religious context. The figures are at various stages of completion, surrounded by tools and materials.
Model Experimentation

Comparing GPT-4 outputs for cultural alignment and ethical reasoning.

A person holds two books, one titled 'Living the 80/20 Way' and another partially visible book titled 'The Culture Code'. The scene is dimly lit, with the light casting shadows across the books.
A person holds two books, one titled 'Living the 80/20 Way' and another partially visible book titled 'The Culture Code'. The scene is dimly lit, with the light casting shadows across the books.

Please refer to our recent work:

"Cultural Cognitive Biases in AI Ethical Decision-Making" (Nature Machine Intelligence): Analyzing how language-culture coupling affects ethical judgments by comparing Chinese-English bilingual models on filial piety metaphor tasks.

"Feasibility of Digital Encoding Islamic Legal Principles" (ACM FAccT): Proposing a knowledge graph-based framework for religious legal reasoning to address AI compliance challenges in Islamic finance.

Research

Exploring cultural dimensions and ethical frameworks.

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