Aida Ponce Del Castillo

I am a legal scholar with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of law, science and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

I am involved in policy and regulatory discussions on technology and AI at the EU, OECD and national level, in Belgium.

I am a member of expert groups, including the OECD Working Party on AI Governance and the Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies.

At national level, I take part in the implementation of Belgium’s National Convergence Plan for the Development of Artificial Intelligence.

I am also a trained foresight practitioner. I designed and co-led a foresight project for the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). I regularly deliver training courses to trade union organisations across the EU, and help them plan strategically for technological change.

Bluesky

Publications

Algorithmic management in Europe: from key features to governance and beyond

In today’s increasingly digitalised workplaces, automated systems orchestrate and monitor tasks, measure performance, and even steer careers, often with little clarity on how they do so. Professionals in almost all sectors can unexpectedly be rated negatively and lose their chances of promotion and professional development. Arbitrary automated decisions can be taken that severely disrupt livelihoods, underscoring the need for a more transparent governance of systems contributing to algorithmic management. (...) Read the full article at 'FEPS Europe'

The EU’s AI Act: Governing through uncertainty and complexity, identifying opportunities for action

Formally adopted by the Council of the EU in May 2024, the AI Act aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Single Market, while ensuring the protection of health, safety, and fundamental rights. This comprehensive regulation impacts a wide range of stakeholders including manufacturers, deployers, providers of AI models and systems, who must inventory their AI systems and comply with the legal requirements. (...) Read the full article at 'Global Workplace Law and Policy'

The Missing Link in Europe's AI Strategy

Europe can become a global leader in artificial intelligence, but only if it protects its citizens and involves workers in the regulatory and deployment process. In that regard, the European Commission’s recent draft regulation leaves much to be desired. (...) Read the full article at 'Project Syndicate'

China’s DeepSeek Is Changing the AI Race: What is Europe’s Edge?

DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough challenges US dominance, disrupts global competition, and raises urgent policy questions for Europe. (...) Read the full article on 'Social Europe'

Memberships

Member of two OECD Working Parties: "AI Governance" and “Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies.

Featured on the 'List of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics'

Women make up nearly 50 percent of the global workforce but only account for a third of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. This lack of diversity perpetuates gender stereotypes and shows up as bias in AI systems. Since 2018, Women in AI Ethics has elevated the voices of experts from multidisciplinary backgrounds and showcased the role of diverse perspectives in responsible design and development of AI models and systems.

Interviews

Robots, Rights, and Regulation: Q&A with Aída Ponce Del Castillo

Mozilla meets AI builders and policy folks who are making AI more trustworthy. This is an extended cut of an interview from the IRL podcast episode "AI from Above" that has been edited for ease of reading.

Read the full interview here

CEOs like Sam Altman of OpenAI can negotiate with a state as if they themselves were a state. What are the consequences for democratic governance ?

An interview on the disruptive potential of new technologies, our (in)ability to understand their impact, the imbalance between developers and the rest of the world.

Read the full interview here