Max Welling, Professor of Machine Learning and co-founder of the Amsterdam Machine Learning Lab (AMLab) at the University of Amsterdam, has been appointed as a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Membership is based on scientific excellence and is considered one of the highest honours in Dutch academia.

Welling is internationally recognised as a pioneer in probabilistic models and deep learning. His work bridges mathematics, computer science, and physics, and has contributed to fundamental and applied advances in artificial intelligence. He has conducted research both in academia and industry, including at Microsoft Research and Qualcomm, and played a key role in establishing ICAI, the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence.

In addition to his research, Welling actively contributes to the Dutch AI ecosystem. As scientific director of ICAI, he fosters collaboration between universities, public institutions, and industry partners.

New members of the KNAW are nominated by existing members. The official inauguration will take place in autumn 2025.