Lily Eva Frank

Lily Eva Frank is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, where she conducts research at the intersection of technology, ethics, and medicine. She is also a Senior Researcher at the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology, demonstrating her significant role in the Dutch academic ethics community. Her work bridges philosophy with practical applications in emerging technologies, particularly focusing on how these technologies reshape human relationships and ethical frameworks.

Dr. Frank's research interests span several interconnected domains that reflect the evolving landscape of technology ethics. Her primary focus areas include the ethics of social robotics (examining chatbots, sex robots, and care robots), the ethical implications of AI in medical contexts (particularly regarding physician-patient relationships and impacts on vulnerable populations), and the ethical challenges arising when AI intersects with behavior change and persuasive technologies. Her scholarly approach integrates biomedical ethics, moral psychology, feminist ethics of technology, and metaethics to address complex questions about human-technology interactions. These research strands collectively examine how emerging technologies disrupt traditional ethical frameworks and social structures.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the social and ethical dimensions of AI and robotics, with particular attention to governance frameworks, mental healthcare applications, digital well-being, and the philosophical foundations of technology ethics. The articles demonstrate a progression from theoretical explorations of moral philosophy to practical applications in healthcare, mental wellness, and social interactions. A notable trend is her increasing engagement with interdisciplinary collaboration, as evidenced by her work with researchers from diverse fields including computer science, psychology, and medical disciplines. Her scholarship consistently addresses the tension between technological innovation and ethical responsibility, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and the potential for both harm and benefit.

Dr. Frank actively seeks interdisciplinary collaboration, as she states: 'I am very interested in interdisciplinary (intradisciplinary too) collaboration-so please get in touch if you think we might have a shared interest!' Her work appears across multiple platforms including PhilPapers, Academia.edu, and ResearchGate, indicating her commitment to scholarly dissemination beyond traditional academic channels. She has contributed to significant projects such as the 'Reimagining Digital Well-Being' report for designers and policymakers, which emerged from a collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Her research program demonstrates a cohesive trajectory examining how emerging technologies challenge and reshape ethical frameworks across multiple domains. From AI in healthcare to social robotics and digital well-being, her work consistently addresses the fundamental question of how humans should ethically navigate increasingly technology-mediated relationships and decision-making processes. This integrative approach positions her as a significant voice in contemporary technology ethics, particularly regarding the practical implementation of ethical frameworks in rapidly evolving technological landscapes.