Maximilian Bauer Receives FrankenstAIn Essay Prize at Conference in Ingolstadt

Award recognizes an essay exploring responsibility in the development and use of artificial intelligence: Maximilian Bauer from the Chair of Innovation & Creativity at WFI is one of the inaugural recipients of the FrankenstAIn Essay Prize.

Maximilian Bauer from the Chair of Innovation & Creativity at the Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI) at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt received the inaugural FrankenstAIn Essay Prize at the FrankenstAIn Conference in Ingolstadt on October 23, 2026. He was one of two award recipients in the essay competition.

In his essay, “After Creation: What Makers Owe When Prediction Fails,” Bauer explores a fundamental question of responsible innovation: What responsibilities do developers and organizations have for AI systems whose behavior and consequences cannot be fully predicted?

Drawing on Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein (1818) and Aristotle's concept of practical wisdom (phronesis), Bauer develops a philosophical perspective on responsibility in the context of artificial intelligence. His central argument is that responsibility for a technology does not end when it is developed or introduced. Even when all consequences cannot be anticipated, those who develop and deploy AI systems remain accountable for their impact.

The “Frankenstein Test”: Responsibility Beyond Development

To make this responsibility more tangible, Bauer proposes what he calls the “Frankenstein Test.” It provides a framework for assessing whether organizations meet their responsibilities when deploying AI. Three questions are central: Can people affected by AI-assisted decisions challenge those decisions? Do the responsible institutions have the ability and authority to intervene in the operation of these systems? And is it clearly established who is responsible for investigating and addressing any harm caused?

In this way, Bauer connects philosophical reflection with practical requirements for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in organizations.

Exploring Responsible Innovation from a New Perspective

The essay builds on Bauer's joint research with Professor Shashi Matta on Responsible Innovation. The competition gave him the opportunity to expand his existing research by incorporating a philosophical perspective on responsibility in the development and use of AI.

“The essay competition gave me the opportunity to expand my research on Responsible Innovation with a philosophical perspective on AI. For me, the central issue was the responsibility that comes with developing and deploying such systems. I greatly appreciated the open discussions at the conference, and the feedback on my essay was extremely helpful. I am very grateful for this recognition of my work,” says Maximilian Bauer.

The FrankenstAIn Conference brought together researchers and other interested participants to discuss the societal, philosophical, and scientific questions surrounding artificial intelligence. The conference takes its name from Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, whose story is set in Ingolstadt.

WFI warmly congratulates Maximilian Bauer on this achievement and is delighted to see his academic work recognized!