In the third episode of the Women in AI podcast series, hosted as part of the ELOQUENCE project, the conversation turned to one of the most important questions in today’s technological landscape: how can artificial intelligence be developed and used in a way that protects and promotes human rights?
The episode featured Dr Helga Molbæk-Steensig, a postdoctoral researcher at the European University Institute, whose work focuses on human rights law and its intersection with artificial intelligence. With a background in law and interdisciplinary research, Helga shared how she entered the field of AI almost by chance, through her work on empirical legal studies and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Traditionally, legal research has relied heavily on doctrinal methods: reading laws, analysing judgments, and interpreting legal reasoning. However, Helga explained that AI is opening new possibilities for empirical legal research. Case law is complex and varied, with judges often referring to similar legal ideas in different ways. Large language models can help identify patterns across this complexity, making it possible to explore legal data in ways that were previously much more difficult.
A central theme of the episode was the need to align AI technologies with human rights principles. As generative AI becomes increasingly present in everyday life, from education and work to communication and access to information, it is crucial to ensure that these systems are truthful, ethical, and respectful of fundamental rights. Human rights provide a particularly useful framework because they are widely recognised, legally binding, and supported by decades of case law that helps balance competing interests and individual rights.
Helga also discussed her role within the ELOQUENCE project, where the European University Institute contributes to assessing whether project outcomes are aligned with human rights and European values. This includes human-led interdisciplinary assessments, as well as informing automatic evaluation methods that can be used repeatedly during the development of AI systems. Such work is essential because responsible AI cannot rely only on technical performance; it must also be assessed through legal, ethical, and social perspectives.
As part of the Women in AI series, the episode also explored the role of women in shaping ethical and human rights-oriented AI. Helga noted that the field of AI and law is growing rapidly, creating opportunities for early-career researchers to contribute meaningfully and become experts in a relatively new area. Her advice to women interested in this field was clear: do not be afraid to engage with the technical side of AI. Even without becoming engineers or coders, legal scholars can learn enough to contribute responsibly and meaningfully to discussions about AI ethics and regulation.
Ultimately, the conversation offered a balanced view of AI. Technology should not simply be rejected out of fear, because human rights are already being violated in many contexts without AI. Instead, the challenge is to understand how AI can help use resources more effectively while preventing the amplification of bias, discrimination, and harm.
Listen to the full episode here.
