Ricardo Baeza-Yates Wins Prestigious National Prize from Government of Chile

Ricardo Baeza-Yates, director of research at the Institute for Experiential AI, has been awarded the National Prize for Applied and Technological Sciences from the government of Chile. The honor is given out every two years to recognize Chileans who have made significant advances in their fields with a global impact.

As a data scientist and AI practitioner, Ricardo’s career has spanned numerous disciplines, with esteemed research and leadership roles in both industry and academia. This year’s award draws special attention to his work on the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

In a press release, Chilean Minister of Education Nicolás Cataldo said, “We have deeply valued the contribution that Ricardo Baeza-Yates has made to the area of ​​computing, data mining, and in particular we have valued the work he has done on ethics in the use of data and also artificial intelligence, which is very pertinent to the times we live in today, regarding how the use of information technologies and artificial intelligence has been increasingly incorporated into the daily activities of our society.”

At the Institute for Experiential AI, Ricardo has spearheaded a number of research projects and events, and spoken passionately in defense of Responsible AI—a major focus area that strives to develop AI applications in a manner that is responsive to ethical, environmental, and societal concerns.

“I am honored to receive this award as it represents a recognition of my research work for 15 years in Chile and 20 years in Catalonia and California,” Ricardo said. “I am also happy because it is the first time a computer scientist has won this prize, showing the importance of this field in all aspects of our lives.” 

In his career, Ricardo has served as a professor at the University of Chile in Santiago, the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, and Northeastern University, and was the vice president of research at Yahoo Labs. Through these roles, Ricardo has proven a vital ally in the development of Responsible AI at Northeastern University and within the global AI community.

Learn more about Ricardo’s work, including his reflections on KDD 2024, which he helped organize. Read about the Responsible AI practice at the Institute for Experiential AI to learn how we’re helping organizations develop their AI practices for the next generation.