Photo and Bio

Credit: Annick Elzenga 2020

Short Bio
Aimee van Wynsberghe has been working in ICT and robotics since 2004. She began her career as part of a research team working with surgical robots in Canada at CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advance Robotics). She is the Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bonn in Germany. Aimee is co-founder and co-director of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics and on the board of the Institute for Accountability in a Digital Age. She is a 2018 L'Oreal Unesco 'For Women in Science' laureate. Aimee also serves as a member of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on AI and is a founding board member of the Netherlands AI Alliance. She is a founding editor for the international peer-reviewed journal AI & Ethics (Springer Nature) and a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Futures Council on Artificial Intelligence and Humanity. Aimee has been named one of the Netherlands top 400 influential women under 38 by VIVA and was named one of the 25 ‘women in robotics you need to know about’. She is author of the book Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design, and Implementation and has been awarded an NWO personal research grant to study how we can responsibly design service robots. She has been interviewed by BBC, Quartz, Financial Times, and other International news media on the topic of ethics and robots, and is often invited to speak at International conferences and summits.

Aimee van Wynsberghe: Pioneering Ethical Robotics and Shaping the Future

In the fast-evolving landscape of the robot world and Artificial Intelligence in particular, some people tend to stand out as a source of innovation and inspiration. When it comes to Aimee van Wynsberghe, with her deep knowledge in the field of robotics and ethics, has turned into one such individual. Her study and research influence the development of advanced techs as well as raise crucial questions about the moral implications of techs. As a result, the whole global society is challenged to consider the ethical dimensions of today’s technological creations. Below, we’ll try to find out more about one of the members of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on AI, her lifelines, accomplishments, as well as contributions to shaping the ethical foundation for the world of robotics.

Aimee van Wynsberghe: A Journey of Passion and Expertise

Aimee van Wynsberghe’s journey into the universe of robotics started early in her life when she was truly fascinated with the tech's intersection and human values. Even the academic path of the woman is the reflection of the unique mix of interests and passions that she has. Aimee van Wynsberghe completed her studies in the field of media and philosophy and decided to pursue an MA degree in computer-mediated communication straight away. This became a solid basis for Aimee’s eventual specialization in the area of robotics ethics.

With an academic background that linked the gap between techs, communication, and philosophy, the woman embarked on an exciting Ph.D. journey at the European University of Twente (Netherlands). Her doctoral robotics research was focused on the ethical implications of healthcare robotics. In her project, Aimee van Wynsberghe discussed the complexities that pop up when the computer is entrusted with a caregiving role. Her work showed how proficient she was in tech concepts and how dedicated she was to raising awareness of the range of ethical challenges posed by robotics techs.

Aimee van Wynsberghe Sets the Foundation for Responsible Robotics

One of the key contributions of Aimee van Wynsberghe to the area of robotics ethics was the establishment of FRR (Foundation for Responsible Robotics). Founded in 2015, the foundation addressed the societal, ethical, and policy challenges somehow related to the fast advancement of Artificial Intelligence and robotics. The core mission of FRR reflected the growing concerns related to the potential consequences of unchecked development of the field of techs.

By means of her brainchild, Aimee van Wynsberghe and every other member of her team did their best to set guidelines and frameworks for the most responsive design, use, as well as deployment of robotics techs. In a professional team working, they paid attention to the field of academia and co-worked with industry stakeholders and policymakers together with the general public in order to come up with a better approach to robotics. Her leadership role in the foundation demonstrated that she was capable of linking the gap between practice and theory, as well as bridging all professionals from different areas to handle robotics’ intricacies together.

Shaping Global Policies: Aimee van Wynsberghe Inspired Discussions

The influence of Aimee van Wynsberghe went far beyond the field of the academic world. The woman has successfully turned into a loud voice in global debates on robotics ethics and governance of Artificial Intelligence. Every other international conference, economist innovation summit, or forum was the place where she was sincerely invited. If you asked the reps of Forbes about Aimee van Wynsberghe, you would certainly hear the word combinations like “the future of technology.” By standing for accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in AI and robotics development, she contributed greatly to ethical standards’ establishment. The latter would stand behind the rapid growth of the industry.

The impact of Aimee was especially significant when she co-founded and became the president of the ICRAC (International Committee for Robot Arms Control). The core principles of the organizations were the responsible use of robotic weaponry and the prevention of the development of autonomous weapons systems that require zero human involvement.

Professor Aimee van Wynsberghe to Champion a Holistic Perspective

One of the core things that make Aimee stand against the background of the rest of the experts in the field is her dedication to robotics ethics and approaching it from the so-called holistic perspective. In her advocacy, the woman goes beyond a narrow focus on the AI and robots’ dangers. Instead, professor van Wynsberghe emphasizes how important it is to consider the broader implications for the whole world, including cultural, economic, and political areas. Through her unique vision, she does her best to challenge people to consider the tech aspects and the ways in which all the advancements influence our shared human experience.

Her holistic approach can be easily traced in her public engagements, where the professor discusses the issues with the reps of diverse backgrounds, be it a scientist or a member of parliament. The way she communicates proves how dedicated she is to fostering a more informed public discourse about the role of techs in our lives.

The Humboldt Professorship: A Coveted Honor for Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe

The Humboldt Professorship, also known as the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, is a highly esteemed academic accolade that only the most profound and talented scholars and researchers can get. The award received its name after a famous Prussian naturalist, Alexander von Humboldt. Today, it is presented by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Aimee van Wynsberghe Elevation of Robotics Ethics through the Humboldt Professorship

Aimee van Wynsberghe’s appointment to the Humboldt Professorship was solid proof of her significant contributions to the area. Not only did it recognize her proficiency in the field of robotic ethics, but it also underscored the importance of ethics in guiding the development and deployment of advanced techs.

By means of Humboldt Professorship, the expert was provided with a reliable platform to perform her research and co-work with colleagues in the same field. This appointment further proved her role as a thought leader. This, in turn, provided her with more influence needed to inspire the next generation of technologists, researchers, scholars, etc.

Printed Works: Shaping Ethics in the Age of Robotics

Robotics ethicist’s extensive body of work in the chosen area has made a huge impact on shaping the responsible development and deployment of the techs in the field of robotics. By means of her publications and research as a board member in Bonn or any other educational establishment, Aimee became the so-called driving force in taking ethical considerations to the forefront of techn development and innovation. Below, we offer a list of some of her most prominent works.

Professor Aimee van Wynsberghe, "Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design, and Implementation" (2015)

In this book, the author discusses the intricate ethical challenges that pop up when robots are integrated into the field of healthcare. She focuses on caregiving roles and delves into the implications of machines helping and interacting with the most vulnerable individuals.

Journal Article - "Designing Robots for Care: Care Centered Value-Sensitive Design" by Aimee van Wynsberghe (2013)

In this journal article, Aimee van Wynsberghe focuses on the VSD concept (Value-Sensitive Design) together with its application to designing robots for care. The readers meet the Care-Centered Value-Sensitive Design framework that aims to ensure that robots meet all the values that are crucial in the area of caregiving.

Book Chapter - "The Problem of Responsibility in Robotics" by Aimee van Wynsberghe (2017)

The robotics ethicist was asked to contribute to "The Ethics of Technological Risk,” where she explored the intricate issue of responsibility when it comes to robotics. The author asks questions of who should take responsibility for the decisions or failures made by robotics, as well as tries to figure out the responsibility that should be considered in the reality where people collaborate with robots.

How About the Advice for the Next Generation?

Once, Professor Aimee van Wynsberghe was asked to give a piece of advice for the next generation. First and foremost, the woman recommended to always stand up and speak up for yourself and others when it’s important. One of the core recommendations was to never worry about the fact that your studies/job do not go as you planned or dreamed. Just keep that to yourself and take your skills to the next job or field of study. Finally, she advises you to question everything and never sacrifice your career for a happy family life and vice versa.

Continuing the Journey

Through her advocacy, research, and leadership, she paves the way for a future in which robots and AI systems coexist harmoniously with human values and aspirations.

At the moment, Aimee van Wynsberghe keeps on making great contributions to the area of robotics ethics. In every project that she’s engaged in, Aimee does her best to remind us that the tech progress we all witness must be accompanied by thoughtful reflection on the whole scope of ethical implications. In a world where innovations never stop, the professional stands as the so-called beacon of ethical guidance. Day by day, Aimee van Wynsberghe inspires people to shape tech so that it boosts our lives rather than diminishes it. With every grant she gets and every statement she makes for the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) for the European Parliament or any other establishment, she reminds us that the tech revolution is not just a scientific endeavor but a moral responsibility. According to Professor van Wynsberghe, the latter requires compassion, wisdom, and foresight.

FAQs

  • Why did Aimee pick the field of robotics ethics?

Aimee started her academic studies in Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, in 2002. That’s when she participated in the team project based on the surgical robots at Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advance Robotics. That’s when she began to ask questions that bothered her about the meaning of surgical robots and how they could change the process. With a very helpful boss, Dr. Schlachta, she began to study ethics to find answers to all of her questions.

  • Why does Aimee van Wynsberghe like working in the field of STEM?

Aimee likes to be part of the process and the voice in the discussion of tech development. Getting other people to think about things they would never think otherwise is her favorite thing, just like meeting individuals who share the same vision in order to make things happen.

  • Was Aimee on the VIVA 400 List?

Yes. VIVA 400 is a high-status annual recognition that celebrates the achievements of the 400 most influential and talented women in the Netherlands in a wide range of areas. Significant contributions of Aimee to the field of robotics ethics were the main reason for her presence on the VIVA 400 List.


Latest

Humboldt Professorship

Humboldt Professorship

Aimee is thrilled to announce that she was chosen as a winner of the "Alexander von Humboldt" grant for AI research. She will be moving to Bonn, Germany to join an outstanding team of researchers and create her own lab focusing on "Sustainable AI". It is a great honor...

International Foundation of Robotics Research Colloquium

International Foundation of Robotics Research Colloquium

On Thursday Nov 5, Aimee is joining Rodney Brooks and Yoshihiko Nakamura for the International Foundation of Robotics Research colloquium on "Robots and Society". Tune in to hear the three of them discuss current issues in robotics, moderated by Raja Chatila.

Robophilosophy Keynote

Aimee had the pleasure of giving a plenary talk at the 2020 edition of RoboPhil. Her talk took a new approach to the idea of ‘designing robots for reciprocity’. She took a critical look at the initiative to design robots for reciprocation between robot and human and...

Media

Humboldt Professorship

Humboldt Professorship

Aimee is thrilled to announce that she was chosen as a winner of the "Alexander von Humboldt" grant for AI research. She will be moving to Bonn, Germany to join an outstanding team of researchers and create her own lab focusing on "Sustainable AI". It is a great honor...

Robophilosophy Keynote

Aimee had the pleasure of giving a plenary talk at the 2020 edition of RoboPhil. Her talk took a new approach to the idea of ‘designing robots for reciprocity’. She took a critical look at the initiative to design robots for reciprocation between robot and human and...

Editorial Board of new Springer Nature Journal “AI and Ethics”

Editorial Board of new Springer Nature Journal “AI and Ethics”

Aimee has accepted an invitation to be on the editorial board of the Springer Nature journal AI and Ethics. This new journal aims to: promote informed debate and discussion of the ethical, regulatory, and policy implications that arise from the development of AI. It...

VIVA 400 List

VIVA 400 List

Aimee has once again been named as one of the 400 women in the Netherlands who are "successful, matter, and make a difference". You can vote for her in the category of 'Tech Talent' here: https://www.viva.nl/viva400/techtalenten/.

Interview in Verdict AI Magazine

Interview in Verdict AI Magazine

Aimee was interviewed by Rob Scammell for and featured extensively in an article for Verdict AI Magazine (Winter 2019 Edition). You can find the article here.

PUBLICATIONS

Notable Selection

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

H-Index: 15

Citations

Critiquing the Reasons for Making Artificial Moral Agents (2018)
Author(s): Aimee Van Wynsberghe, Scott Robbins Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-018-0030-8 Abstract Many industry leaders and academics from the field of machine ethics would have us believe that the inevitability of robots coming to have a larger role in our lives demands that robots be endowed with moral reasoning capabilities. Robots endowed in this way may be referred to as artificial moral agents (AMA). Reasons often given for developing AMAs are: the prevention of harm, the necessity for public trust, the prevention of immoral use, such machines are better moral reasoners than humans, and building these machines would lead to a better understanding of human morality. Although some scholars have challenged the very initiative to develop AMAs, what is currently missing from the debate is a closer examination of the reasons offered by machine ethicists to justify the development of AMAs. This closer examination is especially needed because of the amount of funding currently being allocated to the development of AMAs (from funders like Elon Musk) coupled with the amount of attention researchers and industry leaders receive in the media for their efforts in this direction. The stakes in this debate are high because moral robots would make demands on society; answers to a host of pending questions about what counts as an AMA and whether they are morally responsible for their behavior or not. This paper shifts the burden of proof back to the machine ethicists demanding that they give good reasons to build AMAs. The paper argues that until this is done, the development of commercially available AMAs should not proceed further. Citation van Wynsberghe, A. & Robbins. S. 2018. Critiquing the Reasons for Making Artificial Moral Agents. Science and Engineering Ethics. Online First. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-018-0030-8    
The Dawning of the Ethics of Environmental Robots (2017)
        Author(s): Aimee Van Wynsberghe, Justin Donhauser Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-017-9990-3 Abstract Environmental scientists and engineers have been exploring research and monitoring applications of robotics, as well as exploring ways of integrating robotics into ecosystems to aid in responses to accelerating environmental, climatic, and biodiversity changes. These emerging applications of robots and other autonomous technologies present novel ethical and practical challenges. Yet, the critical applications of robots for environmental research, engineering, protection and remediation have received next to no attention in the ethics of robotics literature to date. This paper seeks to fill that void, and promote the study of environmental robotics. It provides key resources for further critical examination of the issues environmental robots present by explaining and differentiating the sorts of environmental robotics that exist to date and identifying unique conceptual, ethical, and practical issues they present. Citation Wynsberghe, A. van, & Donhauser, J. (2017). The Dawning of the Ethics of Environmental Robots. Science and Engineering Ethics, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9990-3  
Service Robots, Ethics, and Design (2016)
  Author(s): Aimee Van Wynsberghe Link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-016-9409-x   Abstract It should not be a surprise in the near future to encounter either a personal or a professional service robot in our homes and/or our work places: according to the International Federation for Robots, there will be approx 35 million service robots at work by 2018. Given that individuals will interact and even cooperate with these service robots, their design and development demand ethical attention. With this in mind I suggest the use of an approach for incorporating ethics into the design process of robots known as Care Centered Value Sensitive Design (CCVSD). Although this approach was originally and intentionally designed for the healthcare domain, the aim of this paper is to present a preliminary study of how personal and professional service robots might also be evaluated using the CCVSD approach. The normative foundations for CCVSD come from its reliance on the care ethics tradition and in particular the use of care practices for: (1) structuring the analysis and, (2) determining the values of ethical import. To apply CCVSD outside of healthcare one must show that the robot has been integrated into a care practice. Accordingly, the practice into which the robot is to be used must be assessed and shown to meet the conditions of a care practice. By investigating the foundations of the approach I hope to show why it may be applicable for service robots and further to give examples of current robot prototypes that can and cannot be evaluated using CCVSD. Citation van Wynsberghe, A. (2016). Service robots, care ethics, and design. Ethics and Information Technology, 1-11.
Designing robots for care: Care centered value-sensitive design (2013)
Authors: Aimee Van Wynsberghe Link: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-011-9343-6#/page-1     Abstract The prospective robots in healthcare intended to be included within the conclave of the nurse-patient relationship—what I refer to as care robots—require rigorous ethical reflection to ensure their design and introduction do not impede the promotion of values and the dignity of patients at such a vulnerable and sensitive time in their lives. The ethical evaluation of care robots requires insight into the values at stake in the healthcare tradition. What’s more, given the stage of their development and lack of standards provided by the International Organization for Standardization to guide their development, ethics ought to be included into the design process of such robots. The manner in which this may be accomplished, as presented here, uses the blueprint of the Value-sensitive design approach as a means for creating a framework tailored to care contexts. Using care values as the foundational values to be integrated into a technology and using the elements in care, from the care ethics perspective, as the normative criteria, the resulting approach may be referred to as care centered value-sensitive design. The framework proposed here allows for the ethical evaluation of care robots both retrospectively and prospectively. By evaluating care robots in this way, we may ultimately ask what kind of care we, as a society, want to provide in the future. Citation van Wynsberghe, A. (2013). Designing robots for care: Care centered value-sensitive design. Science and engineering ethics, 19(2), 407-433.
Ethicist as Designer: a pragmatic approach to ethics in the lab (2014)
  Authors: Aimee Van Wynsberghe, Scott Robbins Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-013-9498-4       Abstract The prospective robots in healthcare intended to be included within the conclave of the nurse-patient relationship—what I refer to as care robots—require rigorous ethical reflection to ensure their design and introduction do not impede the promotion of values and the dignity of patients at such a vulnerable and sensitive time in their lives. The ethical evaluation of care robots requires insight into the values at stake in the healthcare tradition. What’s more, given the stage of their development and lack of standards provided by the International Organization for Standardization to guide their development, ethics ought to be included into the design process of such robots. The manner in which this may be accomplished, as presented here, uses the blueprint of the Value-sensitive design approach as a means for creating a framework tailored to care contexts. Using care values as the foundational values to be integrated into a technology and using the elements in care, from the care ethics perspective, as the normative criteria, the resulting approach may be referred to as care centered value-sensitive design. The framework proposed here allows for the ethical evaluation of care robots both retrospectively and prospectively. By evaluating care robots in this way, we may ultimately ask what kind of care we, as a society, want to provide in the future. Citation van Wynsberghe, A., & Robbins, S. (2014). Ethicist as Designer: a pragmatic approach to ethics in the lab. Science and engineering ethics, 20(4), 947-961.    
Book: Healthcare Robots (Ashgate, 2015)
aimeeBookSmallLink: https://www.routledge.com/products/isbn/9781472444332 Citation: van Wynsberghe, A. (2015). Healthcare robots: ethics, design and implementation. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.         ’This is a tour de force from one of a new breed of researchers concerned with the societal and ethical issues created by new technologies. Wynsberghe highlights many of the problems with the accelerating use of robotics for elder care and brilliantly points the way forward through value sensitive design. This is a must read, not only for those working in robotics but also for those interested in the future and practice of care.’ Noel Sharkey, University of Sheffield, UK
Telesurgery: An Ethical Appraisal (2008)
Authors: Aimee van Wynsberghe and Chris Gastmans Link: http://jme.bmj.com/content/34/10/e22.short      Abstract The aim of this article is to provide a preliminary ethical evaluation of the effect of telesurgery (long distance, remote surgery) on patient care. In order to accomplish this task we give a broad description of the state of the art in telesurgery and analyse it using Joan Tronto’s articulation of care as a structured process. This structure illuminates the significance of the patient-physician relationship as the buttress for establishing and preserving practices of care in the healthcare context, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding patient dignity. The process of care combined with the moral aim of medicine—to fulfil the good of the patient—provides the ethical foundation for assessing telesurgery. By exploring various telesurgical scenarios we may assess its potential role in augmenting or diminishing patient care within the frame of the patient-physician relationship. The significance of conducting this evaluation lies in the fact that the practice of telesurgery may very shortly become routine and an evaluation has not yet been attempted. Citation van Wynsberghe, A., & Gastmans, C. (2008). Telesurgery: an ethical appraisal. Journal of Medical Ethics, 34(10), e22-e22.

Affiliations

Bonn University

Role: Humboldt Full Professor (Chair of Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence)

Paid: Yes

NDA: No

Foundation for Responsible Robotics

Role: Co-Founder & President

Paid: No

NDA: No

European Commission

Role: Member of High-Level Expert Group on AI

Paid: No

NDA: No

ALLAI (Alliance for AI in the Netherlands)

Role: Board Member

Paid: No

NDA: No

Institute for Accountability in a Digital Age

Role: Board Member

Paid: No

NDA: No

Current Funding

Humboldt Foundation

Grant Name: Humboldt Professorship

Type: Personal Research Grant

Amount: 3.5 Million Euros

Paid To:Bonn University