Elena Beretta

Elena Beretta is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, Department of Computer Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Network Institute. Her research focuses on ethical AI, human-machine interaction, and sociotechnical bias in AI systems. She explores how AI systems encode identity, process visual data, and influence decision-making, advocating for inclusive and accountable technologies.

Key research areas include:

• Human-Machine Interaction & Ethical Design
• AI, Identity & Representation (e.g., gender and LGBTQI+ representation)
• AI & Visual Data (e.g., facial recognition and image processing)

Her work bridges computer science and social sciences, addressing fairness in algorithms and mitigating bias through interdisciplinary methods. Recent publications highlight studies on vision transformers, non-binary representation in computer vision, and discriminatory risks in automated systems.

Prof. Beretta collaborates on projects like the Open Data Infrastructure for Social Science (ODISSEI), enhancing data accessibility and ethical AI practices. She has contributed to agent-based simulations analyzing retailer behavior and cultural technology adoption, reflecting her broader interest in societal impacts of technology.