Some considerations on the role of universities in shaping ethical and regulatory standards in the production of artificial intelligence innovation

an analysis based on UNESP

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of universities in establishing ethical and regulatory standards for the production of Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, focusing on the São Paulo State University (UNESP). Within the context of the knowledge society, AI represents a disruptive innovation that generates profound socio-spatial impacts and ethical dilemmas. This research, characterized as bibliographic and exploratory, investigates how higher education institutions act not only as centers for the production and diffusion of innovation but also as fundamental agents in constructing ethical and regulatory parameters for the application of such disruptive technology. The results highlight the role of public universities in scientific production regarding AI; specifically, UNESP stands out for the creation of institutional tools (such as LegIA, SapientIA, and PitIA) through the Laboratory of the Future (LAF) and the Unesp Innovation Agency (AUIN). Beyond technological development, the university demonstrates leadership in AI governance by implementing pioneering ethical guidelines, such as Resolution No. 13/2025, which regulates the responsible, transparent, and secure use of technology, guiding its development and application in a cohesive manner socially oriented to its spatial reality. It is concluded that the university, as an innovation agent, transcends mere scientific and technological production by assuming the responsibility of balancing technological disruption with data protection, human sovereignty, and social commitment, acting as an essential regulatory guide for the sustainable development of AI in Brazil.