Helmholtz AI lab lead Zeynep Akata receives Leopoldina “Future Knowledge” Prize 2025 at the Leopoldina Annual Meeting

Prof. Dr. Zeynep Akata, Helmholtz AI lab head, Director of the Institute for Explainable Machine Learning at Helmholtz Munich and Liesel Beckmann Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich, has been awarded the “Future Knowledge” Prize 2025 by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Commerzbank Foundation. The award will be formally presented at the Leopoldina Annual Meeting 2025, held on 25 & 26 September in Halle (Saale) and online.

When AI systems classify images, their decision-making processes are often hidden. Akata’s research team at Helmholtz AI develops methods that combine visual, linguistic, and conceptual information, enabling AI to not only make accurate predictions but also explain why a decision was made. This kind of explainable machine learning is especially crucial in sensitive areas like medicine, where trust in AI-assisted diagnoses depends on transparency.

Her group explores approaches such as multi-modal learning (integrating images and language), low-shot learning(training AI from only a few examples), and zero-shot learning (recognizing objects without prior training data, based on descriptions). These methods help build sustainable AI systems that are accountable and better aligned with societal needs.

This year’s Leopoldina Annual Meeting is dedicated to the theme of artificial intelligence, reflecting its significant impact on science, healthcare, climate research, and society at large. The event will bring together international experts to discuss technological advances, real-world applications, and the ethical and political questions raised by AI.