Aimee Van Wynsberghe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aimee van Wynsberghe
Born	London, Ontario
Nationality	Canadian
Education	University of Western Ontario, KU Leuven, University of Twente
Occupation	AI ethicist
Employer	University of Bonn
Known for	President of Foundation for Responsible Robotics

Aimee van Wynsberghe is a leading expert in the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and robotics. She is a special professor at the University of Bonn in Germany. Her work focuses on the "Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence." This means she studies how to make sure AI and robots are used in fair and safe ways.

Aimee leads the Institute for Science and Ethics (IWE) and started the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab. She helps guide important groups like the European Commission on AI rules. She also wrote a book called Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design and Implementation. Aimee often talks in the news about making sure robots and AI are used responsibly. Every two years, she hosts the Sustainable AI Conference in Bonn.

Aimee's Journey: Education and Career

Aimee van Wynsberghe grew up in London, Ontario, Canada. She first studied cell biology at the University of Western Ontario. Then, she earned two master's degrees in applied ethics and bioethics. She studied at KU Leuven in Belgium and through the Erasmus Mundus program.

In 2012, she earned her PhD from the University of Twente. Her PhD work created a set of ethical rules for using care robots in hospitals. This important work was even nominated for a special award in robotics.

Aimee has been working with robots since 2004. She started as a research assistant at CSTAR, which focuses on surgical robots. From 2014 to 2017, she taught about robot ethics at the University of Twente. Later, she became a professor at Delft University of Technology.

In 2020, Aimee made history. She was the first woman to receive an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for "Applied Ethics of Artificial Intelligence." This led her to move to Bonn, Germany. There, she became the director of Bonn University's Institute of Science and Ethics. She also set up the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab.

Working for Responsible Robotics

In 2015, Aimee van Wynsberghe and Noel Sharkey started the Foundation for Responsible Robotics (FRR). This group is non-profit and works to make sure robots are designed and built ethically. They saw a strong need for robots to be more accountable and ethical, especially as they take on more jobs through automation.

Aimee is currently the president of the FRR. She organizes workshops and creates reports to guide how robots are used. She also works with governments, especially in the European Union, to create fair laws for robotics.

Aimee is also part of many other groups that focus on technology ethics. She was on the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence. She also serves on the boards of groups like the Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age.

Her Important Work

Aimee van Wynsberghe has written many important papers and articles. Her work has been referenced by other researchers over 1200 times. In 2016, she wrote the book Healthcare Robots: Ethics, Design and Implementation. This book talks about how robots are used in healthcare now and in the future. It also stresses the need for ethical rules for their use.

Awards and Recognitions

Aimee has received many awards for her work.

• In 2015, she received a research grant to study the ethical design of care robots.
• In 2017, she was named one of "25 Women in Robotics You Need to Know About" by Robohub.
• In 2018, she was listed among the "100 Ai Influencers Worth Following" by the British Interactive Media Association.
• She also received the Dutch L’Oréal – UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship in 2018.
• In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Professorship.
• Since 2022, she has been a member of the Academy for Sciences and Literature in Mainz.
• Her project, "Desirable Digitalisation. Rethinking AI for Just and Sustainable Futures," is a big collaboration with the University of Cambridge.

Aimee in the News

Aimee van Wynsberghe is often asked to share her ideas in the media.

• In 2018, she was interviewed for an article called “Robot Ethics, Robot Equality.”
• She appeared on BBC's Today program and was interviewed by the Artificial Intelligence & Intelligent Automation Network.
• Aimee has spoken at major international events like Web Summit and the AI for Good Global Summit.
• In 2017, she was featured in the documentary Robo Sapiens, which explored the future of humans with robots.
• In 2019, she was interviewed by Forbes. She talked about the challenges of making AI systems ethical.
• Forbes also included her in their 2020 list of women leading the 21st-century AI movement. This was because of her important work in AI ethics.

Images for kids

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  Aimee van Wynsberghe at the AI for Good Global Summit in 2018