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Prof. Dr. phil.

Judith Simon

University of Hamburg

Christian Thiel/Deutscher Ethikrat

Focus of the commitment in the German Ethics Council

  • Ethical, epistemological and political aspects of digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence
  • Trust, trustworthiness, knowledge and technology
  • Values in design & responsible research and innovation

Professional background

  • Since 2017 Full Professor for Ethics in Information Technologies, University of Hamburg
  • 2019–2020 Visiting Professor at the Bauhaus University Weimar
  • Positions as visiting scientist at Cornell Tech (2023), University of Toronto (2023), University of Edinburgh (2023), Spanish Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CSIC-IIIA) in Barcelona (2010–2013), University of Trento (2010+2011), Stanford University (2008), University of Ljubljana (2007)
  • 2014–2017 Associate Professor (tenured) for Philosophy of Science and Technology at the IT University of Copenhagen
  • 2011–2016 Principal Investigator of the Austrian Science Fund Project “Epistemic Trust in Socio-Technical Epistemic Systems” at the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna
  • 2011–2014 Research Assistant at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • 2009–2011 Research Assistant at the Jean Nicod Institute, École Normale Supérieure in Paris
  • 2010 PhD in Philosophy at the University of Vienna
  • 2005–2009 Research Assistant at the Research Group “Philosophy of Science: Cultures and Technologies of Knowledge”, Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna
  • 2003–2005 Research Assistant of the Research Center Juelich at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Research Group Bioethics & Science Communication in Berlin
  • 1996–2002 Studies in Psychology, Philosophy, English and German Language and Literature as well as Media Studies in Berlin, Marburg and Waterloo, Canada; Master in Psychology at the Free University of Berlin

Memberships

  • Since 2021 Member of the selection committee for the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
  • Since 2019 Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina’s focus group “Digitalisation”(previously Scientific Commission “Digitalised Society”)
  • Since 2018 Member of the German Ethics Council, since 2024 Vice-Chair
  • Since 2018 Member of the Joint Committee of German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the German Research Foundation on the Handling of Security-Relevant Research
  • Since 2018 Member of the Working Group “IT Security, Privacy, Ethical and Legal Frameworks” of the Plattform Learning Systems

Distinctions

  • 2013 Herbert A. Simon Award for outstanding research in the field of Philosophy and Computing, awarded by the International Association for Computing and Philosophy

Selected publications

  • Simon, J.; Rieder, G.; Branford, J. (2024): The philosophy and ethics of AI: conceptual, empirical, and technological investigations into values. CEPE/IACAP 2021: introduction to topical collection. Digital Society, 3, 10. DOI: 10.1007/s44206-024-00094-2
  • Jacobs, M.; Simon, J. (2023): Reexamining computer ethics in light of AI systems and AI regulation. AI and Ethics, 3 (4), 1203–1213. DOI: 10.1007/s43681-022-00229-6
  • Jacobs, M.; Simon, J. (2022): Assigning obligations in AI regulation: a discussion of two frameworks proposed by the European Commission. Digital Society, 1, 6. DOI: 10.1007/s44206-022-00009-z
  • Rudschies, C.; Schneider, I.; Simon, J. (2022): The heterogeneity of AI ethics guidelines examined: varying natures, actors, and perceptions. In: Hoeren, T.; Pinelli, S. (ed.): Künstliche Intelligenz – Ethik und Recht. München: C.H. Beck, 67–92.
  • Simon, J.; Rieder, G. (2021): Trusting the Corona-Warn-App? Contemplations on trust and trustworthiness at the intersection of technology, politics and public debate. European Journal of Communication, 36 (4), 334–348. DOI: 10.1177/02673231211028377
  • Rieder, G.; Simon, J.; Wong, P.-H. (2021): Mapping the stony road toward trustworthy AI: expectations, problems, conundrums. In: Pelillo, M.; Scantamburlo, T. (ed.): Machines We Trust. Perspectives on Dependable AI. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 27–40.
  • Simon, J. (ed.) (2020): The Routledge Handbook of Trust and Philosophy. New York: Routledge.
  • Simon, J.; Wong, P.-H.; Rieder, G. (2020): Algorithmic bias and the Value Sensitive Design approach. Internet Policy Review, 9 (4). DOI: 10.14763/2020.4.1534
  • Simon, J. (2017): Value-sensitive design and responsible research and innovation. In: Hansson, S.O. (ed.): The Ethics of Technology. Methods and Approaches. London: Rowman & Littlefield, 219–236.
  • Rieder, G.; Simon, J.(2017): Big data: a new empiricism and its epistemic and socio-political consequences. In: Pietsch, W.; Wernecke, J.; Ott, M. (ed.): Berechenbarkeit der Welt? Philosophie und Wissenschaft im Zeitalter von Big Data. Wiesbaden: Springer, 85–105. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-12153-2_4
  • Rieder, G.; Simon, J. (2017): Big data and technology assessment: research topic or competitor? Journal of Responsible Innovation, 4 (2), 234–253. DOI: 10.1080/23299460.2017.1360718
  • Rieder, G.; Simon, J. (2016): Datatrust: or, the political quest for numerical evidence and the epistemologies of big data. Big Data & Society, 3 (1). DOI: 10.1177/2053951716649398