Utrecht AI Labs Newsletter #8 |
Have you ever wondered how AI can enhance animal welfare? In this edition, we feature an interview with Bas Rodenburg and Armanda den Exter from the AI Lab for Animal Welfare. Bas uses AI to identify chickens and analyse behaviour, aiming to breed laying hens that thrive in large groups.
We also celebrate Floris Bex’s appointment as Professor of Innovation in AI & Law—advancing trustworthy AI in legal settings. Finally, a warm welcome to our new researchers, Evelien and Bob. Exciting times ahead for our AI Labs!
Lastly, don’t forget to share this newsletter with colleagues, family, and friends who’d also like to join our community and encourage them to subscribe.
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Analysing eighteen thousand chicken videos
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Artificial intelligence can take over a lot of work from us. For instance, in the AI Lab for Animal Welfare, AI is used to efficiently monitor the behaviour of individual chickens within a large group. This allows for timely intervention if a chicken displays problematic behaviour, thereby improving the well-being of laying hens.
However, what is still occasionally overlooked is that training all these AI models can require a great deal of manual labour. One of these AI trainers is participation employee Armanda den Exter, whose work in the AI Lab for Animal Welfare involved labelling thousands of chicken videos.
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Floris Bex appointed Professor of Innovation in AI & Law |
As of March 1, Floris Bex of the National Police Lab AI (NPAI) is appointed as Professor of Innovation in AI & Law at Utrecht University.
As scientific director of the NPAI Bex has a strong connection with judiciary practice. With his chair, he aims to strengthen the scientific foundation of AI in law and study the societal impact of this technology. Bex specialises in argumentation theory within AI. He researches how people reason and how AI can support this reasoning. |
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Two new PhD candidates start at AI Labs |
| Two new researchers have begun their doctoral research within the AI Labs. Evelien van der Laan (Dutch Police AI Lab) will be researching biases in the datasets used to train the police’s AI models, and the implications this has for the reliability of those models. Bob Kersten, a policy advisor at the Ministry of Social Affairs, is conducting his research at the AI Lab for Public Services. His research will examine how AI can contribute to social justice and proactive service delivery. |
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A process analyst's guide to renovating a house |
Iris Beerepoot, researcher at the AI Lab for Public Services, is making Business Process Management come to life in a quite unexpected setting: renovating her charming house from the 1930s. In a blog series on social media you can find a unique blend of process insights, real-world challenges and a touch of chaos - all illustrated through quirky photos, videos and behind-the-scenes stories from this ambitious project. In Chapter 5, just released, Iris is gathering a general overview of what one can expect from a house build or renovation, using evidence-based process discovery techniques from the BBC TV show Grand Designs. |
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| Conference on the practice of algorithmization in the public sector: algorithmic transparency, safeguarding public values, and connecting algorithms to the work of public professionals. |
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| Discover a unique opportunity to explore the potential and impact of generative AI in healthcare and health research. This seminar is accessible to all proficiency levels in AI, but please note that it will be conducted in Dutch only. |
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| Conference to connect academia and professional practice through joint engagement with urgent questions about technology within social and organisational contexts. |
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More news from the Labs... |
- Technology and algorithms help companies and governments operate more efficiently, but they also pose risks, especially when decisions affect people and threaten human rights. On March 18 and April 15, the Utrecht Data School will offer a 'Education for Professionals' course on the Fundamental Rights and Algorithms Impact Assessment (IAMA in Dutch). This methodology equips Dutch public sector professionals with tools to critically assess the ethical implications of AI in their work. There are still a few spots left, so enrol now on the Education for Professionals' website!
- AI’s growing power demands multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure intelligent, safe, and reliable systems. This was the 2024 Annual Question by Beste ID. Professor Mehdi Dastani (AI4Oversight Lab) contributed an opinion piece, highlighting the need for responsible AI design in work and research. Floortje Scheepers (AI Lab for Healthy Living) writes about AI and psychiatry. She argues that although AI can improve many things, genuine human connection is essential for a resilient society. In Dutch only!
- Process mining is a powerful technique that helps local authorities gain insight into workplace activities and identify bottlenecks, allowing them to streamline their processes. But it’s not a magic fix. In an article for Od, the platform for information professionals in local government, Hajo Reijers and Vinicius Stein Dani from the AI Lab for Public Services explore the challenges of process mining and the value of collaborating with the scientific community. In Dutch only!
- Good news from our Health AI Labs at UMC Utrecht: The programme “Tailored Lifestyle: An Integrated Data-Driven Approach to Lifestyle and Living Environment” has officially been approved by Health Holland. With a €3 million grant, the EWUU alliance’s institute 4 Preventive Health, AI hub and Centre for Unusual Collaborations (CUCo) collaborate to launch a call for innovative projects in 2025, aimed at building a healthier society.
- Did you know the AI Labs is on LinkedIn? Follow us for news and updates on our research, upcoming events, and job opportunities. Connect with others interested in the field and discuss our latest breakthroughs!
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