Kars Alfrink 🟥
@kars.leapfrog.nl
Designer turned design researcher. Postdoc at TU Delft. Exploring contestable AI. www.contestable.ai
Here's a link to my slides (PDF): contestable.ai/wp-content/u...
September 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Here's a link to my slides (PDF): contestable.ai/wp-content/u...
It is a teaser of sorts for a position paper I have been writing since earlier this year in the semi-open. I hope to do more work on this topic in the years ahead. So it was very productive to discuss this at the symposium.
September 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It is a teaser of sorts for a position paper I have been writing since earlier this year in the semi-open. I hope to do more work on this topic in the years ahead. So it was very productive to discuss this at the symposium.
My contribution explored how we can use design to enable community control over AI systems development towards prosocial ends.
September 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
My contribution explored how we can use design to enable community control over AI systems development towards prosocial ends.
Talks ranged from arguments for reform to abolition of "AI" (scare-quotes intentional) and a variety of positions in between. The ones I enjoyed the most combined a solid grounding in technology with sophisticated political thinking. I learned a lot!
September 19, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Talks ranged from arguments for reform to abolition of "AI" (scare-quotes intentional) and a variety of positions in between. The ones I enjoyed the most combined a solid grounding in technology with sophisticated political thinking. I learned a lot!
Full update with all the details, talks, papers, and photos: leapfrog.nl/blog/archive...
July 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Full update with all the details, talks, papers, and photos: leapfrog.nl/blog/archive...
The din of AI hype and criti-hype continues online. I keep trying to stay grounded and navigate between naive embrace and cynical rejection. Not easy, but it is the work.
July 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The din of AI hype and criti-hype continues online. I keep trying to stay grounded and navigate between naive embrace and cynical rejection. Not easy, but it is the work.
Also spent some time in the streets protesting €2 billion in education cuts. Because apparently that's what it takes to defend the future of research and education in the Netherlands these days.
July 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Also spent some time in the streets protesting €2 billion in education cuts. Because apparently that's what it takes to defend the future of research and education in the Netherlands these days.
Published research on contestability in AI systems, developed a new master's course on responsible AI design, and coached four thesis students through graduation.
July 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Published research on contestability in AI systems, developed a new master's course on responsible AI design, and coached four thesis students through graduation.
Same here. I’ve been enjoying NTS.
June 26, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Same here. I’ve been enjoying NTS.
Some more details on Ameya's thesis and the other finalists here: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/what-we-do/a...
June 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Some more details on Ameya's thesis and the other finalists here: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/what-we-do/a...
Also, a shoutout to master's student Ameya Sawant, whose thesis was one of three works selected for the thesis award. It continues to be a pleasure to mentor this very interesting project on designer autonomy in times of AI.
June 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Also, a shoutout to master's student Ameya Sawant, whose thesis was one of three works selected for the thesis award. It continues to be a pleasure to mentor this very interesting project on designer autonomy in times of AI.
Access the whitepaper here: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/what-we-do/a...
June 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Access the whitepaper here: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/what-we-do/a...
I am also very pleased to have the white paper I contributed to out in the world. I wrote a short piece on designing AI for autonomy. Udo Pesch did a great job editing it all together.
June 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
I am also very pleased to have the white paper I contributed to out in the world. I wrote a short piece on designing AI for autonomy. Udo Pesch did a great job editing it all together.
Brief report on the conference: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/2025/confere...
June 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Brief report on the conference: www.delftdesignforvalues.nl/2025/confere...
About AI ethics, not design ethics, but still related:
> van Maanen, G. (2022). AI Ethics, Ethics Washing, and the Need to Politicize Data Ethics. Digital Society, 1(2), 9. doi.org/10/g833qb
> van Maanen, G. (2022). AI Ethics, Ethics Washing, and the Need to Politicize Data Ethics. Digital Society, 1(2), 9. doi.org/10/g833qb
June 19, 2025 at 12:11 PM
About AI ethics, not design ethics, but still related:
> van Maanen, G. (2022). AI Ethics, Ethics Washing, and the Need to Politicize Data Ethics. Digital Society, 1(2), 9. doi.org/10/g833qb
> van Maanen, G. (2022). AI Ethics, Ethics Washing, and the Need to Politicize Data Ethics. Digital Society, 1(2), 9. doi.org/10/g833qb
Drake hotline bling meme "design ethics" / "design politics".
June 19, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Drake hotline bling meme "design ethics" / "design politics".
Many systems labeled as "AI" simply don't work. We should demand evidence of the functionality of specific systems before debating their ethics (cf. Raji et al., 2022).
June 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Many systems labeled as "AI" simply don't work. We should demand evidence of the functionality of specific systems before debating their ethics (cf. Raji et al., 2022).
The challenge, as I see it, is to do criticism of "AI" while not falling into the trap of reinforcing its "uncontroversial thingness" (Suchman, 2023).
June 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The challenge, as I see it, is to do criticism of "AI" while not falling into the trap of reinforcing its "uncontroversial thingness" (Suchman, 2023).