Celebrating Dr Kristy Claassen: Scholarship, Ubuntu and the Future of Ethical AI

At EthicEdge, we believe strong ethical leadership begins with deep intellectual foundations. This month, we are proud to celebrate a major milestone achieved by our co-director, Dr Kristy Claassen, who recently attained her PhD from the University of Twente.

Kristy successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, Being Human: Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Through the Lens of Ubuntu, in April 2026. This achievement marks the culmination of years of dedicated research into one of the most pressing questions of our time: how do we ensure artificial intelligence serves humanity in meaningful, ethical and culturally grounded ways?

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Claassen on this significant academic accomplishment. Her achievement reflects extraordinary discipline, intellectual depth and a commitment to advancing ethical thinking in an era of rapid technological transformation.

Kristy’s doctoral work speaks directly to some of the most urgent conversations taking place across the world today. As artificial intelligence increasingly shapes healthcare, education, work, public services and social life, ethical questions continue to grow in importance. Organisations, governments and communities are asking how AI systems should be governed, what values should shape their development and how human dignity can remain central in technological progress.

Kristy’s research offers an important contribution to these conversations.

With academic training in philosophy and theology, Kristy has developed expertise at the intersection of ethics, technology and human identity. Her doctoral work formed part of the internationally recognised Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) programme, funded by the Dutch Research Council and supported by leading scholars in philosophy and technology ethics. This placed her work within an important global network of researchers examining the societal impact of emerging technologies.

What makes Kristy’s research especially compelling is its grounding in African philosophy.

Her dissertation explores artificial intelligence through the lens of Ubuntu, an ethical tradition rooted in the understanding that personhood emerges through relationships, community and mutual care. Ubuntu is often expressed through the phrase, “I am because we are.” This philosophy offers valuable insight into how societies might evaluate technologies that increasingly shape human experience.

Kristy’s work asks a profound question: what kind of humanity do AI systems encourage?

Her research examines whether technologies strengthen dignity, support human flourishing and contribute positively to relationships between people and communities. These questions carry enormous significance as AI systems become more influential in shaping opportunity, identity and participation in society.

Through focus groups and value-mapping exercises conducted in Ubuntu-practising communities, Kristy explored how people understand the ethical implications of AI in their everyday lives. Participants identified concerns around fairness, dignity and privacy while also highlighting values that receive less attention in mainstream AI ethics discussions, including creativity, integrity and cultural diversity.

Her findings show that ethical AI requires cultural awareness alongside technical excellence. Technologies shape how people relate to one another, how institutions make decisions and how communities experience inclusion or exclusion. Ethical evaluation benefits from perspectives that account for local values, histories and social realities.

For EthicEdge, this scholarship carries deep significance.

EthicEdge exists to help organisations navigate the ethical complexities of emerging technologies with clarity, care and intellectual rigour. We support businesses, governments and institutions seeking practical approaches to AI governance, responsible innovation and ethical risk management.

Kristy’s research strengthens this work in powerful ways.

Her scholarship reflects the kind of depth and credibility that sits at the heart of EthicEdge’s mission. The questions explored in her doctoral research connect directly to the work we do every day. Human dignity, fairness, cultural context and responsible technological design remain central concerns for organisations adopting AI systems. Kristy’s expertise helps ensure these conversations are informed by robust scholarship and grounded ethical thinking.

Her achievement also reflects something important about EthicEdge itself. Our work is shaped by scholars and practitioners engaged in cutting-edge research and meaningful real-world application. We value intellectual seriousness because ethical questions deserve thoughtful, evidence-informed responses.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform society, the need for informed ethical leadership will only grow. Dr Kristy Claassen’s work offers an important contribution to that future. Her scholarship expands global conversations on AI ethics while bringing valuable African perspectives into spaces that shape policy, governance and innovation.

To Dr Kristy Claassen, congratulations on earning your PhD. Your achievement inspires all of us at EthicEdge, and we look forward to the continued impact of your scholarship, leadership and vision in shaping a more humane future for technology.