Hod Lipson

Hod Lipson is a roboticist who works in the areas of artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing. He and his students love designing and building robots that do what you’d least expect robots to do: Self replicate, self-reflect, ask questions, and even be creative. Lipson’s research asks questions such as: Can robots ultimately design and make other robots? Can machines be curious and creative? Will robots ever be truly self-aware? Answers to these questions can help illuminate life’s big mysteries.

An award-winning researcher, teacher, and communicator, Lipson enjoys sharing the beauty of robotics though his books, essays, public lectures, and radio and television appearances. ​ He is a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Data Science at Columbia University, where he directs the Creative Machines Lab, which pioneers new ways to make machines that create, and machines that are creative.

Before joining Columbia University in 2015, Lipson spent 14 years as a professor at Cornell University. He received his PhD in 1999 from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, followed by a postdoc at Brandeis University and MIT. His work on self-aware and self-replicating robots challenges conventional views of robotics and has enjoyed widespread media coverage. He has also pioneered open-source 3D printing, as well as electronics 3D printing, bio-printing and food printing. Lipson has co-authored over 300 publications that received over 14,000 citations to date. He has co-founded four companies, and is frequent keynoter at both industry and academic events. His TED Talk on self-aware machines is one of the most viewed presentations on AI and robotics.

Expertise

• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence
• 3D Printing
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Smart Cities and Future of Mobility

HONORS & AWARDS

• US National Academy of Engineering Annual Gilbreth Lecturer, 2012.
• Forbes “Top 7 Data scientists in the world”, 2011.
• Popular Science’s one of 25 most Awesome labs in the US, 2011.
• Discover Magazine’s 25 most important discoveries of 2009.
• Esquire Magazine Best & Brightest, 2007.
• Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, 2007.
• TIME Magazine’s “Most important events of 2000”.