Marina Jirotka

Marina Denise Anne Jirotka is professor of human-centered computing at the University of Oxford, director of the Responsible Technology Institute, governing body fellow at St Cross College, board member of the Society for Computers and Law and a research associate at the Oxford Internet Institute. She leads a team that works on responsible innovation, in a range of ICT fields including robotics, AI, machine learning, quantum computing, social media and the digital economy. She is known for her work with Alan Winfield on the 'Ethical Black Box, a proposal that robots using AI should be fitted with a type of inflight recorder, similar to those used by aircraft, to track the decisions and actions of the AI when operating in an uncontrolled environment and to aid in post-accident investigations. Quotes I was very interested in why people did what they did [and so took a degree in Social Anthropology and Psychology]. I found it really rewarding. It opened my eyes We didn’t see my mother much during that time, she remained in Scotland, In my teenage years, I was desperate to get away from Westgate. [After taking her degree] I spotted in a newspaper this conversion course, where you learned about computers and artificial intelligence. I enrolled. I was one of only three women on the course...It was the first AI really People may not know what they want from a system. But I was interested in watching what people did and working out from that what they needed. It’s very interesting There are a lot of ethical issues in computing and AI: AI has also become an ever-present feature of computer programs – deciding who is called for interviews, who is granted a loan and who is seen at risk of reoffending when considered for parole. I’m more and more interested in Responsible Innovation…the trouble is, the industry is all about running fast and breaking things, it’s the mind-set. People often don’t think about negative or unintended consequences We are a long way, she says from robots taking over the world...[but she] is championing the installation of ‘black box’ recorders for responsible robotics...[to] provide some accountability and information, in the event that something goes wrong. External links Category: living people Category:Computer scientists from the United Kingdom Category:Women academics from the United Kingdom Category:University of Oxford faculty