philosophy
machines
Philosophy Machines is a Research & Development practice bringing together expertise in AI, wearable technologies, spatial intelligence, and digital humanities.
"Technology at present is covert philosophy; the point is to make it overtly philosophical." — Philip Agre, 1997
This is now more true than ever. Most technology development embeds assumptions about how people think, work, and relate to systems. We make these hidden assumptions visible, as we build more ethical, meaningful technologies. Our methodology allows us to move rapidly from abstract concepts to working prototypes, uncovering insights that only emerge through building, using and testing.
Poirot is our spatial reasoning model combining computer vision with deep philosophical analysis. We are also working on sensor networks that use machine learning for spatial intelligence, to inform architecture, urban design and policy.
We have worked with organizations ranging from global luxury brands to technology startups, manufacturing companies, and cultural institutions, helping them grapple with complexity rather than reducing it, creating solutions that anticipate rather than react to problems, and in the process reveal unexpected opportunities.
Clients have included: Centre Pompidou, Cotton Incorporated, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lubrizol Corporation, Magnum Foundation, NCR Knowledge Lab, Nivea, Ralph Lauren, Samsung, Unesco.
Our research has been supported so far by EU and UK funders including Horizon 2020, the AHRC, Arts Council England, InnovateUK, EPSRC and ESRC.
is a strategist, designer, and philosopher bridging critical theory and technological innovation. She holds Masters degrees in Philosophy (KU Leuven) and Interactive Telecommunications (NYU), and recently completed a practice-based PhD at the Royal College of Art, London, focusing on the relationship between philosophy, AI and materiality.
Her pioneering work in wearable technologies and embodied interaction has international reach. A former fellow at Paul Allen's legendary Interval Research Lab, she also helped develop early IoT prototypes at NCR's Knowledge Lab and led Experience Design at IBM's Innovation Center in New York.
Despina holds multiple patents in wearable and tangible interface design, and has guided strategic innovation for organizations such as Ralph Lauren, DuPont, UNESCO, Christie's, and Beiersdorf/Nivea.
A sought-after speaker and educator, she has taught at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program for nearly two decades and is founding faculty at SVA's Design for Social Innovation MFA. Her work consistently translates complex, forward-looking concepts into actionable strategies for organizations navigating technological and cultural change.
is a hardware and software developer and researcher working across design ethnography, technical development, and the arts. He holds degrees in Anthropology and Communications (U.C. Berkeley), a Masters in Interactive Telecommunications (NYU), and a PhD on developing mobile and pervasive technologies to support human learning (University of London).
His software, hardware and online work has won awards, his research has influenced government policy. He has worked with large companies like CNBC and Samsung, startups and design studios, and cultural institutions including Centre Pompidou and the American Museum of Natural History.
Kevin runs an AI research group at Coventry University, building machine learning systems and working with a wide range of collaborators. He has published and presented on HCI, anthropology and computer graphics, and is regularly invited as a speaker internationally.
He has led and taught in Masters programs in design at the Royal College of Art, University of the Arts London, and University College London.