Ethical Tech Project Taps Heavyweights for AI Accountability

SAN FRANCISCO, April 16, 2026 – The Ethical Tech Project (ETP), a nonprofit at the forefront of responsible technology, has significantly bolstered its intellectual firepower with the appointment of four distinguished experts to its Advisory Board. The new members—Kevin Werbach, David Hoffman, Charles Lang, and Michelle De Mooy—bring a formidable range of experience from academia, corporate leadership, and public policy, signaling a strategic move to accelerate the development of practical and enforceable AI governance standards.

This expansion comes at a critical juncture, as the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence across all sectors of society outpaces the creation of clear regulatory guardrails. By assembling a diverse brain trust, ETP is positioning itself not just as a thought leader, but as a crucial architect of the tools and frameworks needed to ensure AI develops in a way that is safe, equitable, and aligned with human values.

A Brain Trust for AI's Next Chapter

The collective resume of the new advisors reads like a who's who of AI governance. Each appointee brings a unique and complementary perspective, creating a multidisciplinary force aimed at tackling the complex challenges of ethical AI.

Kevin Werbach, a professor at the Wharton School and Director of its Accountable AI Lab, is a leading voice on the intersection of technology, business incentives, and regulation. His work, including his podcast “The Road to Accountable AI,” focuses on translating high-level principles into market-ready frameworks. “As AI continues to scale across industries, his perspective will help ensure that ethical standards are both principled and practical,” said Robert Levitan, Co-Chair of ETP, in a statement.

David Hoffman brings decades of real-world implementation experience from his time as a senior leader at Intel, where he developed the company's global privacy program and led its cybersecurity and AI policy. Now a professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, he leads an academic lab focused on responsible AI and certification. His deep expertise in trust frameworks, honed through his work with TRUSTe and BBBOnline, is seen as vital for ETP's goals. “His guidance will be instrumental as ETP advances independent and credible AI certification pathways,” Levitan noted.

From Columbia University’s Teachers College, Charles Lang contributes critical expertise in the application of AI in education. As Senior Executive Director of the Digital Futures Institute, he is a leading researcher on learning analytics and the deployment of accountable systems in public-interest contexts. ETP Co-Chair Jennie Baird highlighted his importance, stating, “His commitment to equity and accountability in educational technology makes him an invaluable voice as we build frameworks that serve all people, not just a privileged few.”

Rounding out the new cohort is Michelle De Mooy, an expert on privacy, algorithmic accountability, and the governance of networked AI agent systems. With a background that includes directing the Tech & Public Policy Program at Georgetown University and leading the Privacy & Data Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), she provides crucial insight into the future of autonomous AI. “Michelle brings an understanding of agentic AI behavior that is essential to ETP’s mission,” Baird said.

From Principles to Practice

The appointments signal a deliberate strategy by the Ethical Tech Project to move the conversation on AI ethics beyond abstract principles and toward concrete, actionable solutions. For years, the tech industry and policymakers have debated concepts like fairness, transparency, and accountability. ETP’s focus, amplified by its new advisors, is on operationalizing these concepts.

This “think-and-do tank” approach is already evident in ETP's existing work, such as The Privacy Stack, an open-source technical blueprint designed to help engineers build privacy protections directly into their products. The addition of experts like David Hoffman, with his background in creating and evaluating certification programs, suggests a concerted push to create similar tangible frameworks for broader AI accountability. The goal is to develop standards and certification models that are not only ethically sound but also credible and practical enough for widespread industry adoption.

This focus on practical application is crucial. Many organizations struggle to translate high-level guidance, like the voluntary NIST AI Risk Management Framework, into specific engineering and business practices. ETP aims to bridge that gap by providing the blueprints, tools, and now, the enhanced expert guidance necessary for companies to build and deploy ethical technology at scale.

Navigating the Regulatory Vacuum

ETP's strategic reinforcement comes as governments worldwide grapple with how to regulate artificial intelligence. While landmark legislation like the EU AI Act provides a comprehensive, risk-based model, its phased implementation will take years to fully materialize. In the United States and elsewhere, a patchwork of guidelines and sector-specific rules has created a complex and sometimes uncertain landscape for developers and businesses.

In this environment, nonprofit organizations like ETP are playing an increasingly vital role. By convening experts and building consensus around best practices, they are effectively setting de facto industry standards that can fill the void while formal regulations catch up. The credibility of the individuals on ETP’s advisory board is paramount to this effort. By securing the involvement of respected leaders from institutions like Wharton, Duke, and Columbia, ETP enhances its authority and influence, making its proposed frameworks more likely to be adopted by industry leaders seeking to manage risk and demonstrate a commitment to responsible innovation.

This model of non-governmental standard-setting is becoming a powerful force in tech governance, offering an agile alternative to the often slow and politically fraught legislative process. ETP is positioning itself not as a replacement for government regulation, but as a critical partner in shaping a future where technology serves society's best interests.

Bolstering a Formidable Roster

The four new members join an already impressive Advisory Board that includes leaders like Dr. James Mickens of Harvard University, a renowned expert in computer science and security; Andrew Hall, a professor of political economy at Stanford; and Nishant Bhajaria, a privacy executive and author. This existing foundation of technical, economic, and legal expertise is now significantly enhanced.

Lang’s focus on education adds a vital sectoral perspective, ensuring ETP’s work addresses the unique vulnerabilities and opportunities of AI in learning environments. De Mooy’s expertise in agentic AI systems prepares the organization for the next wave of autonomous technologies. Meanwhile, Werbach and Hoffman provide the crucial link between academic theory, corporate reality, and policy innovation, strengthening ETP's ability to create frameworks that are robust, respected, and, most importantly, real-world ready. This strategic combination of diverse expertise is designed to ensure that as AI continues its rapid evolution, the development of ethical guardrails can keep pace.