PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Arisa Ema

Also known as 江間 有沙

Arisa Ema is a University of Tokyo researcher whose work examines the relationship between AI and society. She earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in science and technology studies at Tokyo before moving from a Kyoto University post to faculty roles in Tokyo. She launched an interdisciplinary AI-and-society group, worked with an AI audit study group on governance recommendations, and joined the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. In 2025, she coauthored a paper on HAIP reporting and was named with her coauthors among Rakuten Technology Excellence Award winners for international AI governance work. She is an associate professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo.

Works
42
Citations
636
h-index
10
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 18 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2007–2012

    A path through science and technology

    She attends a Steiner school in Sydney as a child. At the University of Tokyo, she earns a bachelor's degree in science and technology studies in 2007, a master's in 2009, and a doctorate in 2012.

  2. 2012–2023

    Posts in Kyoto and Tokyo

    She joins Kyoto University's Hakubi Center as an assistant professor in 2012, takes University of Tokyo posts from 2015, and becomes an associate professor at the Institute for Future Initiatives in 2021.

  3. 2014–2020

    An interdisciplinary AI research group

    She launches an interdisciplinary research group in 2014 to study the relationship between AI and society and brings experts across disciplines together. By 2020, she is vice chair of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence's Ethics Committee, a board member of the Japan Deep Learning Association, and a member of the Cabinet Office's Council for Social Principles of Human-centric AI.

  4. June 2022

    An AI audit study group

    The AI Audit Study Group starts work in June 2022 with Ema among its members; its policy recommendation proposes institutional design for AI audits, auditor training, and updates in response to technological progress.

  5. October 2023

    Joining the UN AI body

    She joins the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI in October 2023 as an associate professor at the University of Tokyo.

  6. 2025

    A framework for AI governance

    In July 2025, she coauthors a working paper with Fumiko Kudo and Toshiya Jitsuzumi on a reporting framework based on interviews with HAIP participant organizations. In November 2025, Rakuten names the three among its Technology Excellence Awards winners for their work on international AI governance.

  7. Since November 2023

    Associate professor at Tokyo College

    She becomes an associate professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo, in November 2023 and holds the post in October 2026.

Career

  1. Since 2015University of TokyoAssociate Professor
  2. From 2023United NationsMember
  3. Until 2020Japanese Society for Artificial IntelligenceVice Chair, Ethics Committee
  4. Until 2020Japan Deep Learning AssociationBoard Member
  5. Until 2020Cabinet OfficeMember
  6. 2012–2015Kyoto UniversityAssistant Professor

Education

  1. 2012University of TokyoPhD
  2. 2009University of TokyoMaster's degree
  3. 2007University of TokyoBachelor's degree

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Most-cited works

  1. Neuroethics Questions to Guide Ethical Research in the International Brain Initiatives2018 · Neuron · 166 citations
  2. ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTH:WHO GUIDANCE2021 · 104 citations
  3. Analysis of robot hotel: Reconstruction of works with robots2017 · IEEE RO-MAN · 76 citations
  4. What is Real Risk and Benefit on Work with Robots?2017 · ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) · 62 citations
  5. Social impact and governance of AI and neurotechnologies2022 · Neural Networks · 43 citationsWith Stuart Russell

From OpenAlex, as of 18 October 2026.

  1. Through 2025, first appointments to public AI advisory and safety bodies peaked in 2023Includes Arisa Ema. We find 25 first recorded public AI appointments in 2023, the peak among complete years. Our estimates cover 58 people across 10 bodies.
  2. Stanford University trained or employed 27 of the 111 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Tokyo. Stanford University trained or employed 27 of the 111 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and employment links for major-prize and best-paper winners.
  3. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Tokyo. Our estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.
  4. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers rose from 3% to 32%Includes University of Tokyo. We estimate where leading AI researchers worked when their most-cited papers appeared. The company share rose from 3% in 1975–1979 to 32% in 2020–2024.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. EMA Arisa tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 18 October 2026.
  2. A “general health practitioner” of AI and society u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 18 October 2026.
  3. EMA Lab - Arisa EMA - CV_EN sites.google.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  4. Advancing AI Audits for Enhanced AI Governance ifi.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Checked 18 October 2026.
  5. UN Secretary-General launches AI Advisory Body on risks, opportunities, and international governance of artificial intelligence india.un.org. Checked 18 October 2026.
  6. Preliminary Insights and Recommendations for HAIP Reporting Framework elsi.osaka-u.ac.jp. Checked 18 October 2026.
  7. Rakuten Announces Winners of Rakuten Technology Excellence Awards 2025 global.rakuten.com. Checked 18 October 2026.