Intelligence Briefing
IBM Fellow (since 2020) and AI Ethics Global Leader at IBM Research. Former professor of computer science at the University of Padova for 20 years. Fellow of AAAI and EurAI. Published over 220 scientific articles on constraint reasoning, preferences, multi-agent systems, and AI ethics. Adjunct professor at Columbia University teaching "Ethics and Technology in a Changing World." Contributed to the Vatican's Rome Call for AI Ethics. Published IEEE Spectrum article on AI ethics guidance for engineers (2025).
BS/MS, Computer Science — University of Pisa
PhD, Computer Science — University of Pisa
Operational History
Adjunct Professor at Columbia University
Teaching 'Ethics and Technology in a Changing World'.
careerContinued Research at IBM
Ongoing research in AI ethics and multi-agent systems.
researchContributed to the Rome Call for AI Ethics
Participated in the Vatican's initiative to promote ethical AI.
researchIBM Fellow
Became an IBM Fellow, recognizing her contributions to AI ethics and research.
careerFellow of AAAI and EurAI
Recognized for her contributions to the field of artificial intelligence.
awardJoined University of Padova
Started her tenure as a professor of computer science.
careerAGI Position Assessment
Unknown
Advocates for integrating ethical considerations into AI development from the start. Supports multi-stakeholder governance including industry, government, and civil society. Emphasizes that engineers must now understand ethics alongside technical skills.
Advocates for integrating ethical considerations into AI development from the start. Supports multi-stakeholder governance including industry, government, and civil society. Emphasizes that engineers must now understand ethics alongside technical skills.
Intercepted Communications
“Ethics must be integrated into AI development from the very beginning.”
“We need a multi-stakeholder approach to govern AI technologies.”
“Engineers today must understand ethics alongside their technical skills.”
“AI should reflect human values and preferences.”
“The Rome Call for AI Ethics is a crucial step towards responsible AI.”
Research Output
AI Ethics Guidance for Engineers
2025IEEE Spectrum
Provides practical guidance for engineers on ethical AI development.
The Role of AI in Society
2024Technology and Society
Examines the societal implications of AI technologies.
Ethics in AI: A Framework for Decision Making
2023Journal of AI Ethics
Proposes a framework for ethical decision-making in AI.
Ethical AI: A Global Perspective
2023Global AI Ethics Review
Discusses global perspectives on ethical AI practices.
AI Value Alignment: Challenges and Solutions
2022AI & Society
Analyzes the challenges of aligning AI systems with human values.
Multi-Agent Systems and Preferences
2021Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research
Explores the intersection of multi-agent systems and preference reasoning.
Rome Call for AI Ethics: An Overview
2021AI Ethics Journal
Provides an overview of the Vatican's initiative on AI ethics.
Constraint Reasoning in AI
2020Artificial Intelligence Review
Discusses advancements in constraint reasoning techniques.
Field Intelligence
AI Ethics in Practice
The Future of AI Governance
Ethics and Technology: A New Paradigm
AI and Human Values
Interview on AI Ethics
Known Associates
Stefan Wolfram
collaboratorCollaborated on research related to AI ethics and computational systems.
View Dossier →Judea Pearl
mentorMentored Francesca during her early academic career.
View Dossier →Margaret Mitchell
colleagueWorked together on AI ethics initiatives and publications.
View Dossier →Timnit Gebru
collaboratorCollaborated on projects addressing bias in AI systems.
View Dossier →Organizational Affiliations
Current
IBM
IBM Fellow & AI Ethics Global Leader
2020 - Present
Former
University of Padova
Professor of Computer Science
2000 - 2020
Harvard Radcliffe Institute
Researcher
2019 - 2020
Commendations
2019
Fellow of AAAI
Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence
2019
Fellow of EurAI
European Association for Artificial Intelligence
Source Material
Dossier last updated: 2026-03-04