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About

Adam Poulsen is a researcher specializing in robot ethics, care robotics, and the intersection of technology with vulnerable populations, particularly elderly and disabled individuals. His work sits at a provocative crossroads of artificial intelligence, healthcare ethics, and human sexuality, making him one of the more distinctive voices in applied robot ethics. Poulsen's most influential contributions address the pressing challenge of carer shortages in aging societies, exploring how care robots can ethically fill that gap. His highly cited work on dynamic value trade-offs (55 citations) and sex care robots (54 citations) pushes boundaries by examining not only practical robot deployment but also deeply personal domains, including intimacy and sexual wellbeing for elderly and disabled persons — areas most researchers have avoided. His framework-building papers on ethical design and trust transparency have helped establish principled approaches for developers navigating complex moral terrain. Notably, Poulsen extends his analysis to marginalized communities, including LGBTIQ+ elderly individuals, examining how cybersecurity vulnerabilities and inadequate professional codes of conduct leave these populations underserved. His value-sensitive design research demonstrates a consistent commitment to ensuring that robotic care systems reflect the dignity and diverse needs of all users. With over 190 cumulative citations, his scholarship is shaping how engineers, ethicists, and policymakers think about the future of human-robot caregiving relationships.