A French university has set up a panel to explore the ethical implications of research into new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Research ethics boards are commonplace for scientists working in biomedicine and psychology. When a study involves humans or animals, a board scrutinises its aims, its proposed research methods and its progress as well as looking at the risks and benefits of the work. But academics at the University of Paris-Saclay want to take this practice a step further and incorporate ethical considerations into work being done in other parts of the university, such as the engineering and computer science departments. Its Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity Council will provide a forum for researchers working on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things, to discuss any ethical conundrums their work throws up.