AI & The Digital Society: n=1?

Summit: Learn about the future of AI

As digital technologies continue to evolve, AI-driven hyper-personalization (n=1) is reshaping the way we learn, govern, receive healthcare, and experience daily life. The Erasmus Data Summit 2025 critically examines this shift, exploring how AI-driven individualization can be both an opportunity and a challenge for society.

This year's edition, themed AI & The Digital Society: n=1?, will connect you with leading experts discussing the balance between personalization and societal values, ensuring that AI serves the public good while addressing concerns around fairness, inclusivity, and digital autonomy.

Cutting-edge insights from AI thought leaders on digital governance, ethics, and human-centered AI.
Engaging discussions that challenge the narrative of AI as purely beneficial, diving into its risks and societal implications.
A deeper understanding of AI’s role in education, healthcare, policy, and well-being.
Networking opportunities with fellow researchers and industry professionals shaping the AI landscape.
Exclusive access to innovative research through video flash talks and interactive sessions.

AI & The Digital Society: n=1?

Summit

April 10, 2025

13:00–16:30

Aula, Erasmus University

Increase your knowledge about the relationship between AI, Society & Innovation

Keynote: The (un?)avoidable AI fuelled de-skilling of teachers

13:00-13:30

Felienne Hermans [Free University Amsterdam]

We’re hearing everywhere that AI will revolutionize education, and while we have a general idea of what AI is, what exactly is this education that needs to be revolutionized? Teachers perform a rich palette of diverse tasks; from calling parents and planning school trips to grading and pedagogical interventions. The focus on AI, and the tasks that AI "can" perform, such as grading and creating PowerPoints, creates a narrow and cold image of a teacher's responsibilities. This session by Professor of Computer Science Education Felienne Hermans asks: What do we lose when we implement AI in education?

Key takeaways:

The importance of human-centered teaching in the age of AI.
Balancing automation and teacher expertise to prevent skill erosion.
Rethinking AI’s role to enhance rather than replace educators.

Felienne is a professor of Computer Science Education at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She also works as a high-school CS teacher one day a week at Lyceum Kralingen in the Codasium program.

Felienne is the creator of the Hedy programming language, a gradual and multi-lingual programming language designed for teaching.  She is the author of “The Programmer’s Brain“, a book that helps programmers understand how their brain works and how to use it more effectively. In 2021, Felienne was awarded the Dutch Prize for ICT research. She also has a weekly column on BNR, a Dutch radio station. 

Flash Talk: Public Values and Digital Sovereignty in the Age of AI
(Erasmian Language Model Project)

13:40-13:45

João Gonçalves [Erasmus Universiteit]

As AI-driven decision-making becomes more embedded in public services and digital infrastructures, concerns about digital sovereignty, transparency, and ethical governance are more pressing than ever. This flash talk explores how AI can be designed to align with public values while safeguarding data sovereignty, citizen rights, and democratic accountability.

The talk will highlight a critical initiative, the Erasmian Language Model (ELM): A language AI model developed with ethical and transparency considerations, designed to support fair and bias-aware communication in digital spaces.

Key takeaways:

The role of Civic AI in ensuring fairness and transparency in automated decision-making.
The Erasmian Language Model and how it contributes to responsible AI development.
How public institutions can protect digital sovereignty in an AI-dominated landscape.

João Gonçalves is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, democracy, and the societal impacts of digitalization, addressing topics such as online hate speech and algorithmic discrimination. He developed the Erasmian Language Model (ELM), an open-source and sustainable alternative to ChatGPT. João has led significant projects, including the Horizon Europe SEISMEC initiative, funded with €10 million, and received a VENI grant worth €280,000 from the Dutch Research Council to study data quality in AI. His work has been published in leading journals like New Media & Society and Political Communication. João also co-leads the Digital Society theme in the SSH-Breed program and recently won the ESHCC Societal Engagement Award for his contributions to AI research.

Discussion: Public values, Digital literacy & inclusion in an n=1 Future

13:45-14:15

Gabriele Jacobs [Erasmus University]

Ilyaz Nasrullah [Digital Strategist]

Manon den Dunnen [Dutch Police}

Miranda Saunders [City of Rotterdam]

How do we ensure that public values and inclusivity are not left behind in a world where AI enables hyper-personalized digital experiences? This discussion examines how individuals and institutions can navigate the risks of digital exclusion, misinformation, and algorithmic bias in an era where everything is optimized for personal preferences.

Key takeaways:

The importance of digital literacy in combating AI-driven misinformation.
How to ensure inclusion when AI personalizes digital experiences.
Strategies for maintaining public values and ethical AI use.

Prof. dr. Gabriele Jacobs is Professor of Organizational Behavior and Culture at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (ESSB). As an expert in organizational change, leadership, and public safety, she currently leads the NWA project AI-MAPS on artificial intelligence in public safety. With an impressive career at Erasmus University Rotterdam, including her role as dean of Erasmus University College (2020-2022), she focuses on connecting academic research with societal challenges. Her work in international safety management, including the development of a MOOC with more than 29,000 participants worldwide, illustrates her commitment to making academic knowledge accessible to a broad audience.

Manon den Dunnen works as a Strategic Digital Specialist in the Science & Technology Team at the Strategy and Innovation Directorate of the police. The focus of her work is on the impact of new technology on the values of the constitutional state. Her areas of expertise are synthetic media (deepfakes, language models), metaverses, web3, and the internet of everything (IoT, digital twins).

Ilyaz Nasrullah is a prominent Dutch digital strategist and expert in digital technology, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and human-centered innovation. With a background in Media & Knowledge Engineering from TU Delft, he has advised startups, corporations, governments, and academic institutions on digital strategy and innovation. His work spans diverse areas such as AI, virtual and augmented reality, and the societal impact of technology.
Known for his critical yet constructive perspective on technological advancements, Ilyaz emphasizes the importance of ensuring that innovation benefits everyone. He is also a columnist for Trouw, a supervisory board member at DEN (Digital Heritage Netherlands), and the creator of the podcast series Welkom in de AI-fabriek. Additionally, Ilyaz is an engaging speaker on topics like algorithmic decision-making and human-centered innovation.

After completing her vocational education in Fashion and Clothing, Miranda Saunders continued her studies at both undergraduate and university levels. Her career began at ABN AMRO, after which she held various positions at the municipality of Rotterdam. She progressed from client manager/social welfare worker to district team leader, manager, and strategic advisor. Currently, she works as program manager Digital Inclusion. In addition to her main role, Miranda serves as an external expert for Inholland University of Applied Sciences. She has a passion for debating and various sports activities that energize her.

Keynote: Reimagining Digital Government for the 'n=1' Citizen

14:15-14:35

Pauline Arts [Rijkswaterstaat Digicampus]

Working together towards a safe, livable and accessible Netherlands. That is Rijkswaterstaat. But how do we deploy digital innovations to accomplish this mission? And what does the citizen notice? Pauline Arts will take you along on RWS's digitalization journey in the field of digital innovations, and provides a look inside RWS Digicampus and the challenges of digital innovations within government.

Key takeaways:

The role of digital innovation in creating a safe, livable, and accessible society.
Challenges of implementing AI-driven personalization in government services.
How public institutions can balance efficiency, transparency, and citizen trust in digital governance.

Pauline Arts is an innovative and connecting force with a strategic yet practical approach. As Innovation Manager at RWS Digicampus, Pauline plays a crucial role in supporting digital innovations within Rijkswaterstaat. She is passionately involved in strategic thinking about the deployment of new technology and supporting the innovation process. With her team, she facilitates real change by exploring and applying new information technology possibilities, from innovation to implementation.

RWS Digicampus aims to support innovations based on digital technologies. Pauline and her team connect strategic directions in Information Services and digitalization with operational applications within Rijkswaterstaat. They ensure focus within the ambitious goals of digital innovations and support the entire innovation process, from idea to implementation, with a significant focus on Data & Information Services components

With her enthusiasm and expertise, Pauline Arts contributes to the digital transformation of Rijkswaterstaat and continues to strive for tangible results that optimize service delivery to society.

Flash Talk: Towards a sustainable and inclusive health system – AI for diagnostics & individualized health treatments

15:20-15:25

Peter J. van der Spek [Erasmus Medical Center]

AI is revolutionizing healthcare diagnostics by tailoring treatments to individual patients based on genetic, behavioral, and environmental data. But what are the risks? This talk explores how AI-driven diagnostics reduce misdiagnosis rates, enable early disease detection, and provide hyper-personalized treatments, while also addressing ethical concerns like biased datasets and access inequalities.

Key takeaways:

AI-powered diagnostics and early disease detection.
How hyper-personalization is shaping the future of medicine.
Ethical risks in AI-based healthcare decision-making.

Prof. dr. Peter van der Spek is Head of the Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics at Erasmus Medical Center. As a leading expert in bioinformatics and systems biology, he focuses on applying data science and artificial intelligence in healthcare. His research combines clinical data analysis with molecular diagnostics to enable personalized treatments. Through his pioneering work in medical data integration and analysis, he contributes to the development of precision medicine and the digital transformation of healthcare.

Fireside Chat: he Promise and Perils of AI for a Healthy Society: The 'n=1' Revolution

15:25-15:50

Iman Alipour [BlueGen.ai]

Hanneke Luth [Erasmus Medical Centre]

Armin Vermerris [Philips]

AI is transforming society, allowing for highly individualized treatments and products—but what are the potential downsides? This fireside chat explores the risks and benefits of AI-driven health and product development, from improved patient outcomes to concerns about data privacy, accessibility, and AI decision-making in life-or-death scenarios.

Key takeaways:

The pros and cons of hyper-personalized health care and products
Patient autonomy vs. AI decision-making in healthcare.
How organizations can ensure AI-driven treatment and products remain ethical and inclusive.

Iman Alipour is the co-founder and CEO of BlueGen.ai, a spin-off company from TU Delft that has developed a patented platform for generating synthetic data. With extensive entrepreneurial experience in data-driven companies, Alipour was chosen to lead BlueGen.ai due to his expertise. He is passionate about creating opportunities for data sharing and collaboration that were previously impossible due to privacy constraints. Under his leadership, BlueGen.ai focuses on providing privacy-safe synthetic data solutions for sectors such as healthcare, finance, government, and the software industry. Alipour is committed to advancing data innovation while maintaining strong data privacy standards

Hanneke Luth is a strategic advisor on privacy and information security, with extensive experience consulting organizations in the Dutch public sector, non-profit and telecom industry. Since 2020, she serves as Data Protection Officer at Erasmus MC, the Netherlands' largest academic hospital, where she focuses on the complex challenges of handling sensitive personal data in healthcare, research, and education. In this role, she also advises on national legislation to facilitate health research while protecting individual privacy rights.

Armin is a people, customer-obsessed & digital leader focused on achieving exponential business outcomes by enabling strong ownership, autonomy, and empowerment in the teams through a strong vision and rallying behind a common purpose. At the same level as his passion for food & diving, he gets extremely energized to transform and drive change through the organization. He loves to organize teams around the customer, through design thinking, co-creation, and strong partnering to truly understand tensions & jobs-to-be-done. He sincerely enjoys introducing new business models, propositions, emerging & disruptive technologies to make a significant leap forward – thereby strongly challenging status quo. He fully believes in empowered teams and servant & inspirational leadership enabling those teams to reach ever higher goals, which is to him the way to outperform the industry going forward.

Video Flash Talk: AI & Human Well-being (Psychology of AI Lab)

15:50-15:55

Dr. Anne-Kathrin Klesse [Erasmus University]

Dr Jelle de Vries [Erasmus Universiteit]

Dr Jenny Zimmerman [EDHEC Business School]

AI is increasingly influencing human behavior, emotions, and mental health—whether through personalized content, digital assistants, or AI-driven recommendations. But how does this affect psychological well-being?

This flash talk, presented by the Psychology of AI Lab, explores the impact of AI interactions on emotional resilience, cognitive load, and long-term mental health.

By analyzing how AI influences human behavior, researchers aim to ensure that AI systems are designed to support, rather than manipulate, human decision-making and well-being.

Key takeaways:

The psychological effects of AI-driven personalization on emotions and decision-making.
How AI can be used to promote mental well-being rather than increase stress or digital fatigue.
The importance of ethical AI design in supporting positive human interactions.

Anne-Kathrin Klesse obtained her PhD from Maastricht University and then worked at Tilburg University as an Assistant Professor in Marketing. In October 2016, she joined Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. She frequently spent time at Stanford Graduate School of Business as a visiting scholar. In her research, Anne-Kathrin studies consumer judgement and decision making, with a specific focus on how technology augments human behavior. In one stream of research, she explores whether different device interfaces (e.g., voice-operated versus touch-, or click-operated) prompt different decisions. In another stream, she focuses on understanding human lay beliefs and behavior related to algorithms, AI, and GenAI. Because of the later, she has been invited to become the academic director of the Psychology of AI lab at the Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics (ECDA). Her research has been awarded with the prestigious VENI grant (by NWO) and was published in leading Marketing journals, such as Journal of Consumer Research (JCR), Journal of Marketing Research (JMR), and Journal of Marketing (JM). Anne-Kathrin currently serves at the Editorial Review Board for the International Journal of Research in Marketing (IJRM) and JM.

Keynote: Thrive – Maximizing well-being in the age of AI (EN)

15:55-16:25

Ravi Bapna [University of Minnesota]

Prof Bapna will showcase how AI can positively impact so many aspects of our daily lives, from health and wellness to work, education, and home life. His keynote will delve into the findings of his latest book ‘Thrive’, which he wrote toghter with naindya Ghose. In Thrive, Ravi Bapna and Anindya Ghose counter the backlash by showcasing how AI is positively influencing the aspects of our daily lives that we care about most: our health and wellness, relationships, education, the workplace, and domestic life. In the process the authors help explain the underlying technology and give people the agency they need to shape the debate around how we should regulate AI to maximize its benefits and minimize its risks.

They offer a novel “House of AI” framework that encompasses traditional analytics, generative AI, and fair and ethical deployment of AI. Using examples from everyday life, they showcase how the modern AI-powered ecosystem fundamentally improves the emotional, physical, and material well-being of regular people across the globe. Thrive's mission is to educate the public about AI, shape realistic expectations, and foster informed discussions about a fast-emerging AI-shaped society.

Key takeaways:

AI’s positive impact on health, education, work, and daily life.
The “House of AI” framework for ethical and responsible AI deployment.
Empowering public understanding to shape AI’s regulation and maximize its benefits.

Prof. Bapna holds the Curtis L. Carlson Chair in Business Analytics and Information Systems at the Carlson School of Management and directs the Analytics for Good Institute and Carlson Analytics Lab. An award-winning expert in analytics, AI/ML, and digital transformation, he has received multiple distinguished awards including the INFORMS ISS Distinguished Fellow award. His latest book "THRIVE: Maximizing Well-being in an Age of AI" (MIT Press, 2024) complements his extensive research in online behavior, AI innovations, and information systems economics. As co-founder of the MS-Business Analytics program, he leads the Carlson Analytics Lab, bridging industry-academia partnerships in AI and ML applications.Bapna's expertise extends to executive education, where he trains business leaders in leveraging analytics and digital transformation for competitive advantage.

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