Research Bio
Ken Goldberg leads the AUTOLab supervising research on robotics, with emphasis on AI and robot learning. He is also a professional artist. At UC Berkeley, Ken teaches and supervises research in robotics, automation, and new media. Ken holds dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania (1984) and MS and PhD degrees from Carnegie Mellon University (1990). He joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1995 where he is craigslist Distinguished Professor of New Media. He is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, with secondary appointments in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science and Art Practice. Ken also holds an appointment in the UC San Francisco Medical School where he pursues research in medical robotics. Ken is President of the Robot Learning Foundation.
Ken has published over 400 peer-reviewed technical papers on algorithms for robotics, automation, and social information filtering; his inventions have been awarded nine US Patents. He is co-founder and past Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE), Co-Founder of the Berkeley Center for New Media, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of Ambidextrous Robotics, Co-Founder of the Moxie Institute, and Founding Director of UC Berkeley's Art, Technology, and Culture Lecture Series.
Research Expertise and Interest
robotics, art, social media, new media, automation
In the News
Robots Could Help Close Surgeons’ Skill Gaps and Improve Patient Outcomes
Ken Goldberg Wins Multiple Best Paper Awards
Deep learning helps robots grasp and move objects with ease
Meet the most nimble-fingered robot ever built
Life with machine: Robot relationships get real
Berkeley’s renowned programs in artificial intelligence and robotics involve scores of professors in the College of Engineering. Their aim is to create machines with the intelligence to better serve and work with human beings.
Announcing the California Report Card
Californians can now use smartphones to grade their state on timely issues. Developed by the office of Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom with the CITRIS Data and Democracy Initiative at UC Berkeley.
Making Art Out of Earthquakes
UC Berkeley’s Ken Goldberg, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, is featured in The Atlantic for his recent work, Bloom - “an Internet-based earthwork”.
Big NSF grant funds research into training robots to work with humans
What if robots and humans, working together, were able to perform tasks in surgery and manufacturing that neither can do alone? That’s the question driving new research by UC Berkeley robotics experts Ken Goldberg and Pieter Abbeel and colleagues from four other universities, who were awarded a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
AFRON builds robotics education, research, industry in Africa
Roboticists in Ghana and at UC Berkeley this week launched AFRON, the African Robotics Network, an initiative to enhance robotics education, research and industry in Africa. Co-founder is professor Ken Goldberg, a fellow with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
Berkeley gears up for new era of enterprise with Skydeck incubator
Skydeck forms the hub of Berkeley's efforts to foster a new generation of young entrepreneurs and forge a hotbed of collaborative innovation and enterprise in the East Bay.
Featured in the Media
Jacobi Robotics was founded by a quartet of UC Berkeley robotics students, along with Professor Ken Goldberg.
"Not a single roboticist I know worries about robots stealing jobs or becoming our overlords," said Goldberg, a professor at the College of Engineering.