David Danks

David Danks, an internationally recognized scholar working at the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science, and machine learning, will hold a joint appointment in the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Data Science, beginning in January 2026. Widely respected for his interdisciplinary approach, his research spans four key areas: the ethical and societal impacts of AI and data science; the development of novel machine learning algorithms for causal discovery; philosophical questions about scientific theories, methods, and causation; and computational cognitive science focused on causal cognition and cognitive architectures.

Beyond academic theory, Danks has made significant contributions to real-world policy discussions on AI ethics and governance. He has served on advisory boards for organizations such as the Special Competitive Studies Project, the Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence, and the AI Community of Practice. He also has advised the president and the National AI Initiative Office as a member of the National AI Advisory Committee. His applied experience is integral to his teaching mission, as he focuses on helping students understand the complexities of real-world challenges.

At UVA, Danks plans to design courses that make AI ethics relevant across disciplines—from healthcare and bioethics to transportation systems, criminal justice, and public policy.