About.

Hi, I’m Niels, a researcher from Belgium, and I believe we need a deeper understanding of real-world contexts to create better A.I. systems.

You see, things get a bit messy when taking A.I. systems from the lab into real-world environments. Suddenly, kangaroos, stickers, and other unexpected elements break these systems. A deeper understanding of real-world environments helps identify those elements before they actually cause problems.

A cow stuck with its head in a waste bin on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India.

So why am I of all people creating a deeper understanding? Well, I personally made the above picture of a cow stuck with its head in a waste bin on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India. I also made the picture below of people willingly getting shot with fireworks in Tainan, Taiwan, including myself and SpongeBob.

People willingly getting shot with fireworks in Tainan, Taiwan.

What I’m saying is.. oh, one more? Ok. I also made the picture below of a heater hanging near the ceiling in Warsaw, Poland. So, to continue what I was saying, I already have a nack and passion for exploring the endless unexpected elements in real world contexts.

A heater hanging near the ceiling in Warsaw, Poland.

Also, I have a PhD. Well, la-di-da. I know.. I even used design and qualitative methods. Auwch. Look, don’t worry. I know the quantitative people are way way (yes, two times way) smarter than me. But here’s the thing, we really need to use qualitative methods as well to create a deeper understanding of real-world environments.

In the end, A.I. systems need to be used outside of the lab in the real world. Purely technical solutions will only get us so far. That’s why I’m creating a better understanding of that real world.

If that interests you, feel free to send me a message!