Toby Walsh

Toby Walsh is Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales and Chief Scientist of UNSW.ai, Australia’s premier AI institute. He is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. His research spans optimization, social choice, and the ethical implications of AI—areas that now sit at the heart of global debates on alignment, regulation, and trust. A vocal public intellectual, Walsh has advised governments, spoken at the United Nations, and frequently appears in public media on AI and its risks. His advocacy for limits on autonomous weapons earned him an indefinite ban from Russia. He’s also authored multiple books for general audiences—2062: The World That AI Made, Machines Behaving Badly, and Faking It: Artificial Intelligence in a Human World. Walsh’s influence bridges research, policy, and public discourse. He has served as Editor‐in‐Chief for leading AI journals, led the NICTA research center in Australia, and shaped national AI roadmaps. His ability to combine deep technical insight with accessible communication makes him a rare voice who can guide founders, policymakers, and researchers through both the opportunities and dangers of AI.