Pontus Loviken

University of Plymouth, SoftBank Robotics (France)

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Pontus Loviken is a researcher at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science, whose work explores how machines can learn and develop a sense of self. His primary research areas include online learning for high-dimensional robots, body schema acquisition, and the prerequisites for artificial selfhood. Loviken’s most impactful contribution is his 2020 paper "Prerequisites for an Artificial Self" (33 citations), which bridges philosophy and robotics by examining how body ownership and agency—core components of the minimal self—can be instantiated in artificial systems. This work has been pivotal in bringing philosophical concepts into the realm of AI and human-robot interaction. In robotics, Loviken has advanced online learning techniques through his development of Finite Element Goal Babbling, demonstrated in papers like "Online Learning of Body Orientation Control on a Humanoid Robot" (11 citations) and "Online-learning and planning in high dimensions with finite element goal babbling" (8 citations). These methods enable high-dimensional robots to learn inverse kinematic models and plan movements efficiently in real-world settings, without relying on large datasets. Loviken’s work is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, making him a key figure in the emerging field of artificial consciousness and embodied cognition.