Ethics & AI Policy | NeuralWired

NeuralWired

Version 1.0 | Effective: February 14, 2026

Frontier Intelligence. Decoded for a Neural-Wired World

THE PARADOX WE NAVIGATE

NeuralWired covers the frontier of artificial intelligence- the technologies reshaping human capability, economic systems, and societal structures. We report on agentic systems, multimodal reasoning models, and the transition from human-led to machine-augmented decision-making.

This creates a unique responsibility: we must use AI tools to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving media landscape, while maintaining the transparency and accountability we demand from the companies we cover. The credibility of our coverage depends on our willingness to apply the same ethical scrutiny to our own AI usage that we apply to others.

This Ethics & AI Policy establishes the principles, procedures, and disclosure requirements that govern NeuralWired’s use of artificial intelligence in editorial operations. It applies to all staff, contributors, and commissioned content.

I. Core Principles

Our AI usage is guided by three foundational commitments that align with our broader editorial values:

1.1 Human Judgment is Non-Negotiable

AI tools serve as assistants, not replacements, for human editorial judgment. Every article published by NeuralWired is written, edited, fact-checked, and approved by human journalists. No AI system makes final decisions about:

What stories we cover
Which sources we quote
How we frame arguments or analyses
Whether content is accurate and publication-ready
Editorial standards and policy interpretations

AI-generated drafts, summaries, or suggestions are always reviewed, verified, and substantially rewritten by human editors before publication.

1.2 Transparency Builds Trust

We disclose when AI tools play a meaningful role in content creation. Readers deserve to know how their news is produced, particularly given that we cover AI’s impact on journalism and society.

This means:

Disclosing AI usage when it materially contributes to research, analysis, or drafting
Explaining which tools we used and for what purpose
Acknowledging limitations of AI-assisted workflows
Updating this policy as our practices evolve

1.3 Accuracy Over Efficiency

Speed gains from AI tools never compromise accuracy. AI systems are prone to hallucination (fabricating facts), bias amplification, and outdated information. We verify every factual claim, quote, and statistic independently, regardless of whether it originated from AI-assisted research or traditional reporting methods.

II. Permitted AI Uses

NeuralWired permits AI usage in specific, controlled contexts where human oversight ensures quality and accuracy. The following uses are approved:

2.1 Research Assistance

Permitted:

Summarizing lengthy research papers, technical documentation, or patent filings
Identifying relevant academic papers or sources for a given topic
Translating foreign-language sources into English for preliminary review
Generating research questions or article angles for human evaluation

Required Safeguards:

All AI-generated summaries must be verified against primary sources
Journalists must read original sources, not rely solely on AI summaries for attribution

2.2 Data Analysis and Visualization

Permitted:

Processing large datasets to identify patterns or trends
Generating data visualizations (charts, graphs, infographics)
Cleaning or structuring messy data for analysis
Running statistical models to test hypotheses

Required Safeguards:

Data sources must be cited and verifiable
Statistical claims derived from AI analysis must be reviewed by editors with quantitative expertise
Visualizations generated by AI tools must accurately represent underlying data without distortion

2.3 Draft Generation and Outlining

Permitted:

Creating initial article outlines or structural frameworks
Generating rough first drafts as starting points for human writers
Rephrasing complex technical concepts for general-audience readability

Required Safeguards:

AI-generated drafts must be substantially rewritten (minimum 70% original human content)
All factual claims in AI drafts must be independently verified
Disclosure required if AI played a substantial drafting role (see Section IV)

2.4 Transcription and Translation

Permitted:

Transcribing interviews, podcasts, or recorded speeches
Translating content into multiple languages for international audiences

Required Safeguards:

All quotes used in articles must be verified against original audio/video
Translations reviewed by human editors fluent in both source and target languages

2.5 Editorial Support Tools

Permitted:

Grammar and style checking (Grammarly, Microsoft Editor, etc.)
Headline and social media caption suggestions (human approval required)
SEO optimization recommendations (metadata, keywords)

Note: These tools do not require disclosure as they function as spell-check equivalents.

III. Prohibited AI Uses

The following uses of AI are strictly prohibited under all circumstances:

3.1 No AI-Generated News or Factual Reporting

PROHIBITED: Using AI to write news articles, breaking news updates, or factual reporting without substantial human rewriting and verification.
Rationale: AI cannot conduct original reporting, interview sources, or verify facts. News content must originate from human journalists.

3.2 No Quote Fabrication or Attribution

PROHIBITED: Generating quotes, attributing statements to real people that they did not actually say, or paraphrasing sources without verification.
Rationale: This constitutes fabrication and violates basic journalistic ethics. Every quote must come from actual interviews, statements, or public records.

3.3 No Auto-Publishing Without Human Review

PROHIBITED: Publishing AI-generated content directly to the website, newsletter, or social media without human editorial review.
Rationale: Editorial oversight is mandatory. No automated systems may bypass human editors.

3.4 No Deepfakes or Synthetic Media in News Context

PROHIBITED: Creating or using AI-generated images, videos, or audio that depicts real people saying or doing things they did not actually say or do.
Exception: Clearly labeled illustrative or educational content (e.g., explaining how deepfakes work) is permitted with prominent disclosure.

3.5 No Confidential Data in Third-Party AI Systems

PROHIBITED: Inputting confidential source information, unpublished reporting, proprietary data, or reader personal information into third-party AI systems (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.).
Rationale: Third-party AI providers may retain, train on, or expose sensitive data. Protecting sources and reader privacy is paramount.

IV. Disclosure Requirements

Transparency is central to reader trust. We disclose AI usage when it materially contributes to content creation or analysis.

4.1 When Disclosure is Required

Disclosure is mandatory when:

AI tools were used to generate substantial portions of an initial draft (even if heavily edited)
AI assisted in analyzing large datasets or research corpus that form the basis of findings
AI-generated visualizations, charts, or graphics are included in the article
AI tools played a role in translation or transcription of quoted material

4.2 How to Disclose

Standard Disclosure Format:

“AI tools were used to assist with [specific function: research/data analysis/translation/etc.] for this article. All content was reviewed, verified, and edited by human journalists.”

Placement:

Add disclosure note at the end of articles, before author bio
For data visualizations, include note in caption or methodology section

4.3 When Disclosure is Not Required

Minor editorial assistance does NOT require disclosure:

Grammar and spell-checking tools (Grammarly, etc.)
SEO metadata generation
Routine image editing or formatting tools

V. Fact-Checking AI-Assisted Content

AI systems hallucinate, they confidently generate false information. Every factual claim in AI-assisted content must undergo enhanced verification:

5.1 Enhanced Verification Workflow

Step 1 – Source Check: Verify all cited sources actually exist and were not fabricated by AI.
Step 2 – Quote Verification: Confirm every quote appears in the attributed source with correct context.
Step 3 – Statistical Claims: Independently verify all numbers, percentages, dates, and quantitative claims against primary sources.
Step 4 – Technical Accuracy: Have subject matter experts review technical claims in AI-assisted articles.
Step 5 – Final Human Review: Editor must approve all AI-assisted content before publication.

5.2 AI Hallucination Red Flags

Exercise extra caution when AI output includes:

Precise statistics without clear sourcing
Quotes that seem too perfect or on-message
Vague attributions (‘researchers say,’ ‘experts believe’)
Technical details that cannot be verified in primary sources

VI. Bias and Fairness Considerations

AI systems inherit biases from their training data and can amplify existing societal prejudices. NeuralWired takes the following precautions:

6.1 Awareness of AI Bias

Demographic Bias: AI may underrepresent or mischaracterize marginalized groups. Verify diverse representation in sourcing.
Temporal Bias: Training data cutoff dates mean AI may have outdated information. Always verify current facts.
Framing Bias: AI may default to mainstream perspectives. Actively seek alternative viewpoints.

6.2 Bias Mitigation Strategies

Do not rely solely on AI for source identification, actively seek diverse expert voices
Review AI-generated content for stereotypical language or assumptions
Consult our Editorial Guidelines on source diversity when using AI research assistance

VII. Data Privacy and Security

Protecting sources, unpublished reporting, and reader data is paramount. When using AI tools:

7.1 Handling Confidential Information

NEVER input: Source identities, contact information, confidential communications, unpublished interviews, proprietary company data, reader personal information.
Use anonymization: Remove identifying details before inputting text for analysis or summarization.

7.2 Third-Party AI Data Retention

Understand that commercial AI services (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) may retain input data for training or other purposes. Consult each provider’s data retention policies.

Best Practices:

Use enterprise AI accounts with data protection agreements when available
Opt out of data retention features where offered
Prefer on-premise or locally-run AI tools for sensitive work

VIII. Accountability and Governance

8.1 Editorial Approval Process

Staff Articles: All AI-assisted articles reviewed by senior editor before publication.
Pillar Content: Long-form AI-assisted investigative pieces require Editor-in-Chief approval.
New AI Tools: Testing new AI tools requires editorial team consensus and risk assessment.

8.2 Responsibility Assignment

Writers: Responsible for verifying all AI-generated claims and maintaining accuracy standards.
Editors: Responsible for reviewing AI disclosure, fact-checking rigor, and editorial quality.
Editor-in-Chief: Responsible for policy interpretation, exceptions, and ongoing policy updates.

8.3 Error Correction Protocol

If errors in AI-assisted content are identified after publication, we follow our standard corrections policy with an additional note acknowledging AI involvement if relevant. Patterns of errors in AI-assisted content will trigger policy review.

IX. Training and Awareness

All editorial staff receive training on:

This Ethics & AI Policy and its requirements
How to identify AI hallucinations and common failure modes
Fact-checking workflows for AI-assisted content
Emerging AI capabilities and risks relevant to journalism

X. Policy Review and Updates

AI technology evolves rapidly. This policy is reviewed quarterly and updated as needed to reflect:

New AI capabilities and tools
Emerging ethical concerns in AI journalism
Industry best practices and standards
Lessons learned from our own AI usage

Material changes to this policy will be announced to readers via editorial note on the website.

Conclusion | The Standard We Set

NeuralWired covers the companies building artificial intelligence. Our readers; technologists, executives, founders, policymakers- demand both expertise and integrity. They deserve to know how the journalism they consume is produced.

We use AI tools where they demonstrably improve efficiency, accuracy, or depth of analysis, but never as replacements for human judgment, verification, or accountability. We disclose this usage transparently because our credibility depends on it.

The standard we apply to ourselves is the standard we apply to the organizations we cover. As AI reshapes journalism, NeuralWired commits to modeling responsible, ethical, and transparent integration of these powerful tools.

Questions or Concerns

For questions about this policy or to report concerns about AI usage in NeuralWired content:

Email: editorial@neuralwired.com

Subject Line: AI Ethics Policy Inquiry

NeuralWired Ethics & AI Policy

Version 1.0 | Effective: February 14, 2026

For questions: editorial@neuralwired.com