Maurits Kaptein
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Prof. Dr. Maurits Kaptein (1983) is a full professor of Applied Causal Inference in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Netherlands. In addition to his academic role, Maurits serves as the Chief Data Officer at Network Optix Inc., a leading AI-driven video technology company based in California.
With over two decades of research experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and statistics, Maurits has made significant contributions to fields as diverse as online marketing and healthcare. He is the (co-)author of four books and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, cementing his reputation as a thought leader in his domain (see Google Scholar). Beyond academia, Maurits is a successful serial entrepreneur. He founded and exited two innovative companies: Science Rockstars BV, which revolutionized e-commerce personalization through multi-armed bandit algorithms (acquired by Webpower), and Scailable BV, a pioneer in hardware-independent AI model deployment (acquired by Network Optix in 2024). He also advises numerous startups leveraging AI and machine learning technologies.
Maurits is a seasoned public speaker, renowned for his ability to demystify complex AI concepts and captivate diverse audiences. His engaging, bottom-up approach to explaining the evolution and applications of AI offers both a scientific perspective and practical insights into its transformative potential across industries. Whether discussing the history of machine learning or detailing its real-world implications, Maurits delivers presentations that are both enlightening and highly relevant.
In the business sector, Maurits has collaborated with major players like Booking.com, Bol.com, and Zalando.com, driving the adoption of AI and ML in e-commerce. His expertise includes delivering technical masterclasses on optimizing online commerce through Multi-Armed Bandit algorithms—a subject he explored in depth in his book Persuasion Profiling.
In recent years, Maurits has expanded his focus to healthcare applications, working with organizations like the Dutch Cancer Registry to harness AI and ML for estimating causal treatment effects. His presentations for hospitals, insurance agencies, and healthcare professionals illuminate cutting-edge advancements in AI and their implications for the field and are amazingly well received. His book Digitale Verleiding offers an accessible and engaging overview of AI’s history and its future possibilities.
Books by Maurits Kaptein
For Academics:
Bayesian Statistics for Beginners
Personalized Persuasion: Theory and Practice
For General Audiences (in Dutch):
Hallo Wereld, Hallo Computer
Digitale Verleiding
Maurits Kaptein: What Everyone Should Know About Digital Technology
Applied AI on the edge – Maurits Kaptein | PyData Eindhoven 2021
Maurits Kaptein – bol.com Partner Event 2014
AI Affairs FAQ 5: Whhat is an AI model?