“Remember, that I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed.” (the creature) 

The inaugural FrankenstAIn Conference on the philosophy of AI and technology will take place in Ingolstadt on October 22-23, 2026. We also welcome submissions for the associated FrankenstAIn Essay Prize.

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel, the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, creates an artificial agent that ends up escaping the control of its creator. The analogy with AI is clear. And the novel can therefore be read as a cautionary tale about the rapid and unpredictable consequences of creating agents that we do not properly understand and that do not align with our values. 

The novel thus raises a host of questions that are today relevant for the philosophy and ethics of artificial intelligence, as well as the responsible use of technology more generally. Shelley sets her novel in Ingolstadt. And Victor Frankenstein would have studied at buildings recently renovated and now used by KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. These include the 15th-century Hohe Schule (High School) and the 18th-century Old Anatomy building in which the conference will take place. The aim of the conference is to bring together academics from various disciplines working in the philosophy of AI and technology. The event is set against the backdrop of Shelley’s novel. And participants will have the opportunity to participate in a ‘city walk’ and a visit to the Medical History Museum where they will learn more about the historical and technological context in which the novel is set. The conference marks the first in an annual conference-series on the topic. 

This year’s keynote speakers are:

• Eileen Hunt (Notre Dame)
• Nolen Gertz (Twente)
• Michael Zichy (Bonn)