Congratulations to the Honorary doctor title, what are your feelings upon this?
“It was a complete surprise; I didn't know that I had been proposed for this honor. In addition, as this is my first Doctor Honoris Causa, it seems a bit surreal. However, I am very happy and looking forward to receiving this honor in October.”
What in your research field makes it so interesting?
“AI is changing our world in so many ways and so fast, that looking at how to build AI systems that are responsibly owned by its creators is a real challenge. This is an interdisciplinary endeavour between computer science, ethics, law, design, sociology, psychology, which makes it even more challenging. It is a field that focuses on making a better society; it’s the perfect combination of a hard research challenge with practical benefits.”
Your recent research looks into operationalizing the responsible use of AI. Why is that so important?
“Because responsible AI (RAI) can only succeed if we understand how to put AI principles in practice. That entails how to correctly do risk and impact assessments, how to set up RAI governance, how to design, develop, evaluate, deploy and maintain an AI system and perhaps the most important one; how to train all the people involved.”
What have been the highlights in your cooperation with the University of Gothenburg?
“I have visited the Department of Computer Science and Engineering giving talks and last year I became an affiliated professor. Currently, we are preparing a proposal for the Scandinavian call of the responsible use of AI with Professors Dubhashi and Schneider.
This year seems to have a special Swedish connection as I also won a Distinguished Guest Professor position funded by the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Hence, I will visit Sweden for six months in the next two years and therefore I will also be in Goteborg more often”, says Ricardo Baeza-Yates.
The promotion ceremony takes place on 17 October 2025.
