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Editors’ Introduction:: Telling Human Stories in the Age of Generative AI
Full text linkThis issue of GRACE: Global Review of AI Community Ethics arrives at a critical juncture, as generative AI rapidly reshapes the boundaries of creative labor, authorship, policymaking, and public life. From courtroom debates and copyright disputes to deeply personal accounts of disability, mental health, and surveillance, the contributions in this volume offer grounded, often urgent reflections on how AI-generated content and systems are altering the core of our shared human experience.
We received more than 3,000 submissions for this issue, and we were moved by the breadth, originality, and thoughtfulness of the work. The selected pieces reflect our editorial commitment to uplifting community-based, student-led, and ethics-oriented perspectives on AI ethics. Most contributions come from undergraduate students, with the exception of “Who Holds the Camera?” co-authored by former GRACE editors Muhammad Khattak and Samuel Eli Cohen—now in graduate school—and Stanford staff member Kiyoshi Taylor. Their continued work affirms GRACE\u27s mission to remain a platform for emerging thinkers and those who began here and continue to shape the field. In many of our editorial discussions we addressed concerns about censorship and trolling of student work that uses language of design justice and equity. Rather than filter those words to avoid trolls, we opted to affirm the rhetorical choices of our authors
Habitable Conditions Required for Space Settlement
Full text linkSpace colonization is an advanced scientific and technological endeavor aimed at creating Earth-like environments beyond our planet. It supports deep-space research, enhances Earth’s economy through space-based industries, and ensures the long-term survival of humanity. First proposed in 1969, the concept of space habitation has evolved through various models, with the Stanford Torus—a donut-shaped habitat—emerging as the most feasible design. This study proposes a modified dual-torus model, where the upper torus accommodates human habitation, agriculture, and commercial zones, while the lower torus is dedicated to waste management and industrial operations. We examine the structural modifications and explore sustainable technologies, including advanced closed-loop systems, water recycling showers, and methane-based bioplastics. Our findings highlight the viability of this design in creating a self-sustaining habitat, providing insights into the infrastructure and operational strategies required for long-term space colonization
Kiwi Flavonoids: A Promising Frontier in Breast Cancer Treatment
Full text linkBreast Cancer is a serious health risk that needs to be treated with the right treatments as soon as possible. The study focuses on selecting and analyzing breast cancer target proteins and their interactions with specific ligands, with an emphasis on the anticancer properties of kiwi flavonoids. To identify the breast cancer target proteins, including ABCG2, AKT, CREB1, EGFR, and PI3K, the KEGG Database was utilized. The KEGG Database is a tool for identifying diseases, genes, cellular pathways, and other related entities. Protein structures were retrieved using a resource that can predict protein structures in 3D design, known as AlphaFold. The ligands’ binding to the protein structures were retrieved using PubChem, a chemical information library. Ligand preparation involves energy minimization using ChemDraw, which optimizes molecular configurations for enhanced stability. Pharmacophore analysis using Molinspiration and AdmetSAR was employed to identify molecules targeting specific receptors and modulating macromolecular activity, as well as to assess ADME/T properties. Molecular docking was done using CB Dock, a protein-ligand docking website, to predict binding interactions between proteins and ligands. Molecular interaction analysis was conducted using Ligplot, a software program that creates 2D diagrams to visualize intermolecular interactions between proteins and ligands. By performing all of these steps, it was found that kiwi flavonoids, especially the selected ligands, showed anticancer properties. These effects were demonstrated by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, which ultimately led to cell death. Overall, the findings suggest that kiwi flavonoids can act as therapeutic agents for breast cancer treatment
Analyzing the Relationship Between Familiarity and Willingness of High School Students Toward Entomophagy
Full text linkEntomophagy—the consumption of edible insects—is getting growing global attention as an alternative protein source. Edible insects’ environmental, economic, and nutritional benefits have been proven, but consumer awareness, especially among teenagers, is the challenge that entomophagy is facing to implement in a large population. Lesnik\u27s (Lesnik, 2019) research has discovered that disgust is learned rather than experienced. The question then emerged: If students learn about edible insects, would they be willing to consume insects? Thus, my research aims to answer the question: “To what extent would more familiarity with edible insects increase the willingness of high school students to engage in entomophagy?” This question investigates whether the mindset of high school students can be reprogrammed as they are more exposed to insects. To answer the question, this research used mixed methods using correlational and thematic analysis from data collected from high school students. Findings suggest that what students learn may be more important than what they know and more exposure to edible insects significantly increased their willingness to consume insects again, which demonstrates a high potential of bringing the insect as a replacement for traditional meat products. The study’s understanding also guides other researchers in further examining “disgust-based rejections” of people toward unfamiliar foods.
Key Words: entomophagy, edible insects, familiarity, willingness, insect-containing food (ICF
Digitalization and its Impact on Developing Economies: A Case Study of Pakistan’s Banking Sector
Full text linkThis paper explores how digitalization affects Pakistan’s developing economy. I examine the potential benefits of digitalization, such as increased efficiency, financial inclusion, and new financial products. I also discuss the challenges posed by digitalization, including digital literacy gaps, cybersecurity threats, and potential job displacement. By analyzing existing research and data on the prevalence of digital banking systems in Pakistan, I document how the rollout of digital banking systems affects the share of people leveraging banking tools such as e-wallets and financial technology apps. The increase in the take-up of these tools suggests a possible growth in the use of banking systems, especially in underdeveloped, rural areas. My findings provide insights for policymakers looking to promote an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation in Pakistan\u27s banking sector
The Complexities of Contextual Knowledge Transfer in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Full text linkThis paper explores the complexities involved in transferring knowledge from its original context to a new setting, with a focus on two Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. It argues that the process is often underestimated, particularly in the Natural Sciences, where applying theoretical principles outside controlled environments can introduce unforeseen challenges. In contrast, Mathematics is seen as largely context-independent, with its principles remaining consistent across different applications. The paper highlights the distinct nature of knowledge transfer in each AOK, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers both the constancy of theoretical knowledge and the necessity for practical adaptability. Through examining specific examples, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how knowledge is shaped by and adapted to new contexts, with implications for both scientific and mathematical fields
Microbial Consortia-Mediated Degradation of Recalcitrant Plastics
Full text linkThe persistent accumulation of recalcitrant plastics in the environment poses a significant challenge due to their resistance to natural degradation processes. Traditional waste management strategies have proven inadequate, necessitating innovative solutions. This review explores the potential of microbial consortia in mediating the degradation of recalcitrant plastics. By leveraging the synergistic interactions between diverse microbial species, these consortia can effectively break down complex plastic polymers that are otherwise resistant to degradation. We examine how microbial consortia enhance plastic biodegradation, including enzymatic pathways and metabolic cooperation. Case studies highlighting successful applications and potential challenges in plastic degradation are presented. Finally, we outline future research directions and the implications of microbial consortia-mediated plastic degradation for environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review underscores the promise of microbial consortia as a viable and eco-friendly approach to mitigating plastic pollution
Artificial Intelligence in Brazil: Impacts on Economic Growth, Productivity, and Inequality
Full text linkThe paper examines the economic implications of artificial intelligence (AI) integration in Brazil, focusing on its impact on productivity, growth, and inequality across key sectors—agriculture, manufacturing, and services—while also analyzing indirect effects in healthcare and education. Utilizing a narrative and exploratory case study approach supported by quantitative and qualitative data from sources such as the IBGE, IMF, and OECD, the study reveals that AI\u27s potential to transform Brazil’s economy is moderated by infrastructural disparities, limited human capital, and sector-specific constraints.
Findings indicate that AI can moderately enhance productivity in precision agriculture and predictive maintenance, yet its adoption is uneven and often limited to capital-intensive firms in technologically advanced regions. The services sector, dominated by informal labor and low digitalization, presents limited scalability for AI-driven innovation. While job displacement due to automation is projected to affect over half of Brazil’s workforce, opportunities for job creation in AI-related industries remain marginal due to the country’s low tertiary education rates and limited R&D capacity.
Nonetheless, AI holds transformative potential in non-obvious domains. In healthcare, AI can reduce administrative inefficiencies and improve diagnostic accuracy, indirectly enhancing human capital and contributing to long-term economic growth. Similarly, AI-enabled educational tools offer cost-saving mechanisms and skill-leveling effects, especially valuable in a country where only 15% of the workforce holds tertiary qualifications. The study also warns of the risk of AI exacerbating regional inequalities due to uneven broadband access and technological readiness.
The paper concludes that while AI’s first-glance impact on Brazil’s economy may seem modest, its latent potential is significant—particularly if supported by policies that invest in digital infrastructure, upskilling, and equitable access. Targeted interventions are critical to ensuring AI fosters inclusive and sustainable economic development in Brazil
A Different Lens for the Earthworks Experience
Full text linkThe Earthworks movement of the 1960s and 70s challenged the conceptual art world by transforming nature into a gallery space. Land artists manipulate existing landscapes, using nature as a medium, to create large-scale works bound to their sites. Both critics and artists have stressed the experiential nature of such work, and as a result the dominant process for viewing these installations is to visit them in-person. Through an analyis of land artist Nancy Holt’s photographic piece titled Sunlight in Sun Tunnels, this paper reconsiders the most effective method in which viewers interact with Earthworks. Analysis of Holt’s work reveals the ways in which the medium of photography alters the Earthworks experience, and proposes its use as a more powerful alternative to traditional means of viewing
Skinned
Full text link“Skinned” is a lyrical essay I wrote for a Creative Nonfiction course at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It was inspired by a childhood photo of my older sister and I which encapsulates my admiration of and dependency on her when we were younger. Weaving together the boundaries between dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and a medicalized approach to womanhood and beauty through a therapy questionnaire, the essay explores the difficulty of becoming a woman after a girlhood spent as another’s shadow.