Francesca Rossi

Francesca Rossi is an internationally renowned computer scientist, currently serving as an IBM Fellow and AI Ethics Global Leader. Holding several prominent positions, including AAAI President, WEF GFC on AI for Humanity Co-Chair, and Deputy Director of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, she is at the forefront of AI. An expert on ethical issues and the behaviour of AI systems, Francesca focuses on computational social choice, collective decision-making, multi-agent systems, preferences, and constraint reasoning. In her speaking presentations, she eloquently delves into ethical and responsible AI.

After obtaining a PhD in Computer Science from the Universita di Pisa, she joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor. In 1998 she became an Associate Professor at the Universita degli Studi di Padova, spending the next two decades with the university in roles such as Professor of Computer Science and Full Professor. In 2015, she joined IBM as an AI Ethics Global Leader before becoming an IBM Fellow in 2020.

A preeminent scholar in AI, Francesca has published over 200 scientific articles in leading journals and conference proceedings. She has also written book chapters and authored the Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming. Moreover, she is the editor of 17 volumes and Editor in Chief of the Journal of AI Research.

As a world-leading thought leader in AI, Francesca is involved with several distinguished organisations. She is an IEEE member of the Executive Committee of the AI Ethics Initiative, President of the IJCAI, member of the board of directors of the Partnership on AI and member of the European Commission High-Level Expert Group on AI. Francesca is also a member of the scientific advisory board of the Future of Life Institute. When booked for speaking engagements, Francesca articulately explores the ethical considerations and development of autonomous intelligence systems, captivating audiences with her insight and expertise.