Marina Jirotka

About

Marina Jirotka is a prominent researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and ethics, with a particular focus on responsible innovation and ethical governance. She is best known for her highly influential 2018 paper, "Ethical Governance is Essential to Building Trust in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Systems," which has garnered an impressive 449 citations and established a foundational roadmap linking ethics, standards, regulation, and public engagement to guide the responsible development of AI and robotics. A recurring theme throughout Jirotka's career is accountability and transparency in autonomous systems. Her pioneering advocacy for an "Ethical Black Box" — a device analogous to an aircraft flight recorder that captures operational data from social robots — reflects her commitment to making AI systems auditable and trustworthy. This concept, first proposed in 2017, evolved into a draft open standard by 2022, demonstrating her dedication to translating theoretical ethics into practical tools. Jirotka's research also extends to fairness in robot navigation, ethical risk assessment in robot toys, and variable autonomy design, revealing a broad concern for how robots integrate safely into everyday social contexts. Her body of work has become essential reading for researchers, engineers, and policymakers navigating the complex ethical landscape of modern robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Ethical governance is essential to building trust in robotics and artificial intelligence systems

   449 citations · 2018
2. 2
   The Case for an Ethical Black Box

   84 citations · 2017
3. 3
   Robot Accident Investigation: A Case Study in Responsible Robotics

   38 citations · 2020
4. 4
   Fair navigation planning: A resource for characterizing and designing fairness in mobile robots

   33 citations · 2020
5. 5
   Variable Autonomy through Responsible Robotics: Design Guidelines and Research Agenda

   14 citations · 2023
6. 6
   Ethical Risk Assessment for Social Robots: Case Studies in Smart Robot Toys

   11 citations · 2022
7. 7
   An ethical black box for social robots: A draft open standard

   9 citations · 2022
8. 8
   Human-robot relationships and the development of responsible social robots

   6 citations · 2019
9. 9
   Ethical Governance is essential to building Trust in Robotics and AI Systems

   6 citations · 2018
10. 10
    Role-Play as Responsible Robotics: The Virtual Witness Testimony Role-Play Interview for Investigating Hazardous Human-Robot Interactions

    2 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links