Faculty profile

Ori Freiman

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nullMcMaster University

Research

I am a Post-Doctoral Fellow at McMaster University’s Digital Society Lab, researching at the intersection of emerging technologies, democracy, and societal change. My focus is on national AI policies, organizational adoption of 'Responsible AI', and the potential democratic challenges posed by implementing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). I have authored several reports about technology, human rights, privacy, and democracy, some of which have been published in leading outlets. Before joining McMaster, I completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Ethics of AI Lab at the University of Toronto, where I researched the concept of 'Trustworthy AI' and its relation to policy-making and ethics-washing, and the Ethics of CBDCs. My Ph.D. dissertation (Graduate Program in Science, Technology & Society @ Bar-Ilan University in Israel) deals with the topic of trust in technologies, focusing on blockchain networks and conversational AIs. Keywords: AI Policy; AI Ethics; Responsible AI; Trust and Technology; Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC); Science and Technology Studies; Philosophy of Technology; Social Epistemology Please feel free to contact me

Research areas, by share of publications

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

27 publications.

01

‘Opacity’ and ‘Trust’: From Concepts and Measurements to Public Policy

Freiman O, McAndrews J, Mansell J, van der Linden C

Philosophy and Technology20257 citationsFirst author
02

Norm Violations in Online Discourse: Epistemic and Civil Foundations for Platform Design and Moderation

Barnoy A, Freiman O, Keren A, Miller B

Social Epistemology20253 citations
03

AI-Testimony, Conversational AIs and Our Anthropocentric Theory of Testimony

Freiman O

Social Epistemology202427 citationsFirst author
04

Analysis of Beliefs Acquired from a Conversational AI: Instruments-based Beliefs, Testimony-based Beliefs, and Technology-based Beliefs

Freiman O

Episteme202416 citationsFirst authorOpen Access
05

The Democratic Aspects of the Israeli Digital Shekel

Freiman O

2023First author
06

Automation's Hidden Costs: The Case Against a Paywalled Human Touch

Freiman O, Geslevich Packin N

2023First author
07

Making sense of the conceptual nonsense ‘trustworthy AI’

Freiman O

AI and Ethics2023First author
08

Vaccine Hesitancy and the Concept of Trust: An Analysis Based on the Israeli COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

Freiman O

Minerva202312 citationsFirst authorOpen Access
09

Central Bank Digital Currencies Could Mean the end of Democracy

Freiman O

2022First author
10

AI, Liability, and The Future of the Legal System

Freiman O

2022First author

Courses taught

1
  • Architectures of Digital Ecosystems

    PUBPOL 707 · last taught 2025

    Graduate
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Subject: Prospective PhD student: Ethics and Social Impacts of AI Dear Professor Freiman, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "‘Opacity’ and ‘Trust’: From Concepts and Measurements to Public Policy" (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]
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