John Shawe-Taylor becomes new UNESCO Chair in Artificial Intelligence

We are delighted to announce that the National Commission for UNESCO has recently approved the establishment of a UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence at UCL. The Chairholder role has been awarded to John Shawe-Taylor, Professor of Computational Statistics and Machine Learning and Head of Department at UCL Computer Science.

The Chair on Artificial Intelligence will study the field as a driver, and as a component for solutions and strategies to assist the achievement of international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will contribute not only to the way information can be intelligently assimilated and utilised across a range of sectors and services, but also to drive the developmental course of AI.

The UNESCO Chair on AI focuses on impact and innovation in the area at the national level, by creating a portfolio of evidence and guidance on AI research methods, case studies, deployment, investigation and logistical operability across all SDG sectors.

The Chair is also responsible for embedding the values of ethics, well being, peace and human rights within AI. This will include how stakeholders and policymakers can best utilise AI, to take advantage of its many benefits and minimise its risks.

Professor Shawe-Taylor said: “I am delighted to have taken the position of Chairholder in AI at UCL. It is a testament to the quality of research here at the Department of Computer Science, and at UCL. We look forward to advancing our leading position in Artificial Intelligence research internationally, and driving impact to wider social, business and governmental strategies.”

Professor John Shawe-Taylor’s primary research area is Statistical Learning Theory, but his contributions range from Neural Networks, to Machine Learning, to Graph Theory. Since becoming Chair on 8 August 2018, Professor Shawe-Taylor has been working with the Knowledge Societies Division, CI sector of UNESCO to prepare with the Knowledge 4 All Foundation a mapping of AI  hotspots in emerging economies. He is also playing an instrumental role in designing a global AI powered infrastructure to deliver equitable access to education via open educational resources in the project X5GON.