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Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem

Also known as Emma Ruttkamp

Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem is a South African philosopher who works on the ethics of AI. From 2014, she is the elected South African representative at the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. She led the UNESCO ad hoc expert group that drafted the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. In 2023, she was named to the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. As of October 2026, she is professor and head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pretoria and chair of UNESCO's World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

Timeline

  1. Since 2014

    Elected South African representative

    From 2014, she is the elected South African representative at the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.

  2. 2021

    The UNESCO AI ethics recommendation

    She leads the UNESCO ad hoc expert group that drafts the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.

  3. 2023

    Member of UN AI advisory body

    She is named a member of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI, whose first meeting takes place in October 2023.

  4. April 2024

    Chair of UNESCO's COMEST

    In April 2024, she is the current chairperson of UNESCO's World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

  5. As of October 2026

    Professor and head of philosophy

    As of October 2026, she is professor and head of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pretoria and chair of COMEST.

Sources and credits

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  1. emma-ruttkamp-bloem | AIPS aips.odoo.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Members | United Nations un.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. UN Secretary-General launches AI Advisory Body on risks, opportunities, and international governance of artificial intelligence | United Nations in India india.un.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. IEAI Event: Speaker Series on 'The Why of AI Ethics: AI and Agency' with Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem - Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence ieai.sot.tum.de. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem - Research Group Lead, Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR) - GCG globalcenter.ai. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem sciencediplomacy.org. Checked 14 October 2026.