Katja Hofmann

Katja Hofmann is a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence, currently serving as a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research in Cambridge, UK. She leads the Game Intelligence team, which focuses on advancing machine learning techniques, particularly in the context of video games and AI systems that can collaborate with humans to solve complex real-world problems.124

Education and Early Career

Hofmann earned her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Amsterdam, where she specialized in developing smart search engines that learn from user interactions. Her academic journey also includes a Master of Science from California State University, East Bay, and a Diplom Informatiker from Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft in Germany.15

Research Focus

Hofmann's research primarily revolves around reinforcement learning and interactive learning systems. She has made significant contributions to projects like Project Malmo, which utilizes the game Minecraft as a platform for AI experimentation. Her long-term vision is to create AI that can effectively learn from and collaborate with users, enhancing their capabilities and decision-making processes.234

Professional Experience

• Microsoft Research: Joined in 2013 as a postdoctoral researcher and has since progressed through various roles including Researcher, Senior Researcher, and Principal Researcher before her current position.
• Previous Roles: Hofmann has also worked as a software engineering intern at Google and held various research positions prior to her tenure at Microsoft.15

Contributions and Impact

Hofmann has been actively involved in the academic community, serving on the boards of major conferences such as the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR). Her work has been widely cited, reflecting her influence in the fields of machine learning and AI.67

Through her innovative research, Katja Hofmann continues to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve, particularly in enhancing human-computer interaction within gaming environments and beyond.