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In the Spotlight - Meet Judith Zoë Blijden
At Women in AI we’d like to inspire others by featuring female role models that are making a difference in AI. We aim to empower women who are working in AI by highlighting their success stories. This way we hope to inspire other women and girls to get into STEM-related fields. In our series ‘In the Spotlight’ we shine a light on an expert in the field and today we’d like you to meet Judith Zoë Blijden.
Author: Ingrid van Heuven van Staereling
About Judith
Judith Zoë Blijden is a philosopher and lawyer based in the Netherlands, and the founder of “Is This Art Maybe.’ Through her organization, she initiates vital conversations about the societal impact of technology, engaging with a diverse audience to deepen our collective understanding of how technology interacts with the world. Her work emphasizes the role individuals play in shaping technological development and implementation.
Judith has substantial experience in responsible AI. At Hooghiemstra & Partners she gives advice to (public) organizations how they can assess AI on their legal and ethical risks. For instance, she helps organizations translating the requirements of the AI Act and the GDPR, as well as an organizations’ ethical guidelines into a feasible framework. So that an organization can asses its AI-systems. Before working a senior legal consultant, Judith served as a Senior Policy Officer for Digital Transition at the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands, focusing on the impact of AI on the economy and the workplace. The societal impact of technology has been a central theme throughout Judith’s career. She has consulted on legal and policy issues related to technology at the Dutch firm PBLQ, served as a board member for the digital rights organization Bits of Freedom, and worked with both the Dutch NGO Kennisland and the European NGO Communia Association, where she focused on improving access to information and digital culture.
Looking Beyond the Surface Details
In many ways Judith plays an active part in the field of AI. “I contribute to the AI ecosystem in the Netherlands and beyond through my various roles, including as the founder of Is This Art Maybe, as well as in my capacities as a senior legal consultant and advisor.” Her work is focused on demystifying the impact of technology, which extends to more. “I engage with diverse stakeholders in meaningful conversations, and facilitate the exchange of expertise by connecting individuals with complementary skills.”
She is great at looking beyond what lies on the surface. “My greatest strength lies in my ability to grasp the abstract relationships between different ideas, concepts, or objects. I excel at recognizing patterns, identifying underlying principles, and seeing connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.” – Judith explains. “This often requires looking beyond surface details to understand deeper meanings, relationships, and structures. As technology evolves, so does its interaction with society. Both technology and society are protean—highly adaptable, constantly changing, and capable of taking on new forms.”
Given the dynamic nature of the interaction between technology and society, Judith believes it is essential to bring together a wide range of perspectives to fully understand what is happening and what needs to happen. “This is precisely what I do with Is This Art Maybe—I focus on themes that resonate with people on a personal level, making the abstract more concrete and relatable.” Similarly, at the Social and Economic Council, she facilitated the national social dialogue between the employers’ federation and major labor unions on the impact of AI on the economy and work. “This work directly influences the Dutch AI ecosystem by promoting the successful and ethical integration of technology within its socio-cultural context.”
Filling the Gap Between AI and the Real World
Judith explains how she advocates for a diverse AI landscape. “The world of AI is, unfortunately, a closed and homogeneous one, where a small group of individuals wield significant influence.” The demographics of those who develop AI, the data they use, and the limited voices allowed in the conversation unfortunately make this evident. “That is why I am committed to contributing to and advocating for an AI landscape that better reflects the vast diversity, dynamism, and gentleness that the real world has to offer.” At present, Judith experienced that the gap between the AI world and the real world remains significant. “A central goal of my work is to help people broaden their horizons, recognize that they possess valuable knowledge, and empower them to apply this knowledge in relation to technology.” This mission is not just an ideal, but a practice that guides all of her activities. “I strive to make my work as open and inclusive as possible by providing free access to conversations and workshops and making resources publicly available.”
Her openness extends to her methodology and approach to knowledge. Judith deeply values both scientific and practical knowledge. And this is also reflected in the diverse and supportive communities she cultivates, where everyone is encouraged to contribute. “In my approach, I prioritize giving space to others, listening as much as I contribute, and acknowledging that I do not have all the answers.” Judith believes that these principles are often overlooked in the AI world. “But they are essential to creating a more equitable and thoughtful AI landscape.”
Pursuing Ethical Discussions about Technology
Through her organization, Judith initiates fundamental conversations about the societal impact of technology, engaging with a diverse audience to deepen our collective understanding of how technology interacts with the world. Her work emphasizes the role people can play in shaping technological development and implementation. She creates methodologies, workshops, creative productions, collaborations and community.
In 2022, Judith launched her first major initiative, The Digital Period, a public philosophy project that examines the relationship between autonomy and technology through the lens of period tracking apps. This project was sparked by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which removed the national right to abortion in the United States. This ruling highlighted for Judith the broader issue of fundamental rights under pressure and prompted a public debate about the role of period apps in this context.
“I believed that ethical discussions about technology needed to be more actively pursued, particularly at a time when universal principles are increasingly under threat.” She began by organizing conversations on the ethics of period apps with friends, colleagues, and family, which soon expanded to include developers, artists, designers, researchers, and participants at conferences and universities across Europe. This effort led to the creation of a community, research collaborations, and an online platform. Her open research and dialogues culminated in the successful podcast, The Digital Period, which has garnered over 1000 listens. For this initiative, Judith was awarded the Democracy Fellowship (2022-2023) by Humanity in Action.
Judith continues her work under the banner of Is This Art Maybe. Currently, she is developing new projects, such as Algorithmic Love, which explores the role of vulnerability in dating apps, and a project that investigates self-image in the context of tracking technologies.
Being Part of the WAI Awards
Curious to learn more about Judith, her work and the amazing work our other Women in AI Award nominees have done? Join us on February 7th at the Women in AI Gala, where the official Award winners will be presented. Come and celebrate all these remarkable women forging the path on making a significant impact in AI across the Benelux region. We can’t wait to see you there!