Thomas Ploug

Thomas Ploug is a Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Communication and Psychology, within The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. He serves as Director of the Centre for AI Ethics, Law, and Policy and Director of the Centre for Ethics Education. As Chair of the Research Ethics Committee at Aalborg University and former member of Denmark's National Council of Ethics, Ploug focuses on AI Ethics, Data Ethics, Medical Ethics, and Research Ethics. His work includes projects like the REPAI initiative on Responsible AI for Value Creation and the XAI for Safety and Security project. He has been honored with awards such as the 2020 Best Paper Award and the 2009 Lecturer of the Year. His research spans ethical challenges in AI, healthcare technology, genomic data, and public health interventions.

Ploug's research interests include informed consent models, explainable AI (XAI), patient rights in AI decision-making, and the ethical implications of data-driven healthcare. He has contributed to over 100 publications and actively participates in expert committees and advisory boards. His teaching spans over 20 years, emphasizing ethics education and practical applications of ethical frameworks in technology and healthcare contexts.

• Key Projects:
  • REPAI: Responsible AI for Value Creation (2023–2027)
  • XAI for Safety and Security: A Bottom-Up Approach (Villum Foundation-funded)
  • JOURNALENS SOCALE LIV (2017–2019)
• Awards:
  • Best Paper Award (2020)
  • Lecturer of the Year, Faculty of Humanities (2009)

His advocacy extends to ethical governance of emerging technologies, with frequent media engagements on AI ethics, data privacy, and healthcare technology. Ploug collaborates internationally, including as a Guest Professor at Halmstad University, Sweden, and through interdisciplinary teams like the Humanomics Research Group and the Purposeful Technology Lab.