Alan Winfield

Winfield was born in Burton upon Trent where he attended Burton Grammar School.{{Cite web |title=Burton Grammar School Old Boys' Association |url=http://www.burtongrammar.co.uk/category/old-boys/oba |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=burtongrammar.co.uk}} He studied electronic engineering for both BSc and PhD, majoring in telecommunications, at the University of Hull from 1974 to 1984. Following his first degree he won an SERC scholarship for doctoral study in the field of information theory and error-correcting codes under the supervision of Rodney Goodman.{{Cite web |title=Rodney M. Goodman Curriculum Vitae |url=http://www.rod.goodman.name/pdf/R.G.WebCV.pdf |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=rod.goodman.name}}

Winfield's first faculty appointment was as lecturer in the department of electronic engineering at the University of Hull, from 1981 to 1984. During this period he wrote a guide to the programming language Forth, The Complete Forth, Wiley, 1983.{{Cite book |title=The Complete Forth |author=Alan Winfield|publisher = Wiley|date = 1983|isbn=9780471882350 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeforth0000winf/|access-date=9 May 2023}} Winfield also invented an architecture for executing native Forth at machine level.{{Cite web |title=United States Patent no 4,974,157, Data Processing System |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/03/69/89/6ba72b89efc744/US4974157.pdf|access-date=9 May 2023}}

In 1984 Winfield resigned his lectureship and founded, with Rod Goodman, Metaforth Computer Systems Ltd, with the aim of commercializing the Forth machine.{{Cite web |title=APD Communications Ltd |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01847526 |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=company-information.service.gov.uk}}{{cite magazine|title=Byte UK: Multitasking Forth|author=Dick Pountain|publisher=McGraw-Hill| magazine=Byte |date=March 1985 |pages= 363–371|url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1985-03/page/n363/mode/2up|accessdate = 12 May 2023}}

In 1992 Winfield was appointed Hewlett-Packard Professor of Electronic Engineering and Associate Dean (Research) at UWE, Bristol,{{Cite web |date=19 January 2004 |title=Alan FT Winfield |url=https://ias.uwe.ac.uk/People%20Pages/a-winfie2/AFT_Winfield.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050412231839/https://ias.uwe.ac.uk/People%20Pages/a-winfie2/AFT_Winfield.html |archive-date=12 April 2005 |access-date=19 July 2023 |url-status=live }} where he co-founded the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. From 2009 to 2016 he was director of UWE's Science Communication Unit.{{Cite web |title=Science Communication Unit members |url=http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/sciencecommunicationunit/staffandstudents.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422172258/http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/sciencecommunicationunit/staffandstudents.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2016 |access-date=12 May 2023 |website=uwe.ac.uk |url-status=live }}

Winfield is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence,{{Cite web |title=JETAI Editorial Board |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=teta20 |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=tandfonline.com}} and the Journal of AI and Ethics.{{Cite web |title=AI and Ethics Editors |url=https://www.springer.com/journal/43681/editors |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=springer.com}} He is also an associate editor of Frontiers Robotics and AI.{{Cite web |title=Frontiers Learning and Evolution Editors |url=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/sections/robot-learning-and-evolution/editors |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=frontiersin.org}}

From 2006 to 2009, with Noel Sharkey, Owen Holland and Frank Burnet,{{Cite web |title=Frank Burnet |url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/frank-burnet-2644391a |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=linkedin.com}} Winfield led public engagement project Walking with Robots.{{Cite web |title=EPSRC Grants on the web |url=https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/D05656X/1 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=epsrc.ukri.org}} The project was designed to encourage children into science and technology careers, and to involve the public in discussions about robotics research issues.{{Cite magazine |author= Christine Evans-Pughe|title=Masters of their fate?|magazine = Engineering and Technology|date = 4 April 2007 |url = https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4211394|access-date = 31 May 2023}} In 2010 Walking with Robots was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Rooke Medal for public promotion of engineering.{{Cite web |title=RAEng Rooke Medal previous winners |url=https://raeng.org.uk/programmes-and-prizes/prizes/rooke-award/previous-winners |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=raeng.org.uk}}

In 2009 Winfield won an EPSRC Senior Media Fellowship to support and develop his engagement with the press and media.{{Cite web |title=EPSRC Grants on the Web |url=https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/G063052/1 |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=epsrc.ukri.org}} During the fellowship Winfield wrote popular science book Robotics: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2012.{{Cite book |author = Alan Winfield|title=Robotics: A Very Short Introduction|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=27 September 2012|doi=10.1093/actrade/9780199695980.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-969598-0 |url = https://academic.oup.com/book/999| access-date = 3 June 2023}}

Winfield has given public lectures and panel debates including: British Academy debate 'Does AI pose a threat to society?' with Maja Pantic, Samantha Payne and Christian List chaired by Claire Craig,{{Cite web |date=1 March 2017 |title=Does AI pose a threat to society? |url=https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/does-ai-pose-threat-society/ |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=thebritishacademy.ac.uk}} lectures and Q&A with Raja Chatila at the Royal Institution,{{Cite web |title=Robot Ethics in the 21st Century|website=YouTube |date=22 June 2017|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3VHbLeq0BU&t=1200s|access-date = 18 June 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Q&A Robot Ethics in the 21st Century|website=YouTube |date=22 June 2017|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFo3Iz3ABwg|access-date = 18 June 2023}} talks and Q&A with Ron Arkin at 'Smarter Together': Why AI Needs Human-Choice? in Seoul,{{Cite web |date=14 August 2018 |title=Robot Ethics: from principles to policy |url=https://saic.sisain.co.kr/2018/eng.html |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=sisain.co.kr}} the CaSE Annual Lecture with Jim Al-Khalili and Wendy Hall, Institute of Physics,{{Cite web |date=20 December 2018 |title=CaSE Annual Lecture 2018: 'Making Artificial Intelligence A Reality' |url=https://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/analysis-and-publications/detail/case-annual-lecture-2018-ai/ |access-date=18 June 2023 |website=sciencecampaign.org.uk}} and the keynote lecture for the 15th Appleton Space Conference at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2019 |title=15th Appleton Space Conference |url=https://www.ralspace.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/15th-Appleton-Space-Conference.aspx/ |access-date=18 June 2023 |website=ralspace.stfc.ac.uk}}

In February 2017 Winfield was a guest of Jim Al-Khalili on BBC Radio 4's The Life Scientific,{{Cite web |date=21 February 2017 |title=The Life Scientific |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ffv2l |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=bbc.co.uk}} and in October 2017 he was interviewed by Stephen Sackur for BBC TV HARDtalk.{{Cite news |title = Winfield HARDtalk clip 'We need to worry about artificial stupidity'| work=BBC News| date=31 October 2017|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-41815759|access-date = 31 May 2023}}{{Cite web |date=31 October 2017 |title=HARDtalk full interview Alan Winfield |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5cW76iRDpo |access-date=3 June 2023 |website=youtube.com |publisher=}}

In 2010 Winfield was a part of a cross-disciplinary group that drafted the EPSRC/AHRC Principles of Robotics.{{Cite web |title=Principles of robotics |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20120117150117/http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ourportfolio/themes/engineering/activities/Pages/principlesofrobotics.aspx |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=nationalarchives.gov.uk}}{{Cite magazine |title = Five roboethical principles – for humans|author = Alan Winfield|magazine = New Scientist|date = 4 May 2011|url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028111-100-five-roboethical-principles-for-humans/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413110937/https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028111-100-five-roboethical-principles-for-humans/ |access-date = 9 June 2023| archive-date=13 April 2016 }} Inspired by Asimov's Laws of robotics, the principles take the position that "robots are simply tools, for which humans must take responsibility".{{Cite web |title = Beyond Asimov: how to plan for ethical robots|author = Benjamin Kuipers|publisher = The Conversation|date = 2 June 2016| url = https://theconversation.com/beyond-asimov-how-to-plan-for-ethical-robots-59725|access-date = 9 June 2023}} In 2012 Winfield joined the British Standards Institute working group on robot ethics{{Cite web |title=AMT/10/1 – Ethics for Robots and Autonomous Systems |url=https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/committees/50285034 |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=bsigroup.com |publisher=BSI}} which drafted BS 8611:2016 Robots and robotic devices: Guide to the ethical design and application of robots and robotic systems.{{Cite news |author=Hannah Devlin|date=18 September 2016|title=Do no harm, don't discriminate: official guidance issued on robot ethics|newspaper=The Guardian|url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/18/official-guidance-robot-ethics-british-standards-institute|access-date = 11 July 2023}}

From 2015 to 2018 Winfield was a member of the Ethics Advisory Board of the EU Human Brain Project.{{Cite web |title=The Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) |url=https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/open-ethical-engaged/ethics/ethics-advisory-board/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042648/https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/open-ethical-engaged/ethics/ethics-advisory-board/ |archive-date=2 February 2019 |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=humanbrainproject.eu |url-status=live }} Between 2016 and 2018 he served as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Futures Council on Technology Values and Policy.{{Cite web |title=Network of Global Future Councils 2016–2018 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_2016_2018_Network_of_Global_Future_Councils_Final_Report.pdf |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=weforum.org}} Winfield has given evidence to both Commons and Lords select committee inquiries on Artificial Intelligence in the UK parliament.{{Cite web |date=February 2016 |title=Written evidence submitted by Professor Alan Winfield (ROB0070) |url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/science-and-technology-committee/robotics-and-artificial-intelligence/written/33812.pdf |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=parliament.uk}}{{Cite web |date=October 2017 |title=Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence: oral evidence |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/7046/html/ |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=parliament.uk}} He served as an expert advisor to the NHS Health Education England Topol Review Preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future.{{Cite web |date=February 2019 |title=Preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future |url=https://topol.hee.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/HEE-Topol-Review-2019.pdf |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=hee.nhs.uk}}

In 2016 Winfield joined the IEEE Global Initiative on ethics of Intelligence and Autonomous Systems. As chair of the General Principles group{{Cite web |title=IEEE EAD First Edition Committees List |url=https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/documents/other/ec_bios.pdf |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=IEEE}} he helped to draft Ethically Aligned Design.{{Cite web |title=Ethically Aligned Design|url = https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/documents/other/ead_v2.pdf|access-date = 31 May 2023}} He is a member of the initiative's executive committee,{{Cite web |title=The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems |url=https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/governance/iccom/IC16-002-Global_Initiative_for_Ethical_Considerations_in_the_Design_of_Autonomous_Systems.pdf |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=IEEE}} and chaired the working group that drafted IEEE Standard 7001-2021 on Transparency of Autonomous Systems.{{Cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=IEEE Standard 7001-2021 Transparency of Autonomous Systems |url=https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/7001/6929/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=IEEE}} Winfield received an IEEE Special Recognition Award in 2021.{{Cite web |title=2021 IEEE SA Awards – IEEE SA Managing Director's Special Recognition Award Given to Alan Winfield| website=YouTube |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITU_-o2lY8E|access-date = 13 July 2023}}

His work has been reported by the BBC, New Scientist, The Guardian, The Telegraph,{{Cite news |title=The British engineers creating robots that 'breed' |author=Ellie Zolfagharifard|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=14 March 2021|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2021/03/14/british-engineers-creating-self-replicating-robots/|access-date=1 June 2023}} Nature,{{Cite journal |title=Machine ethics: The robot's dilemma|author=Boer Deng|date=1 July 2015|journal=Nature|volume=523 |issue=7558 |pages=24–26 |doi=10.1038/523024a |pmid=26135432 |bibcode=2015Natur.523...24D |s2cid=4459500 |doi-access=free }} and Scientific American.

• Winfield AFT and Blackmore S. (2021) Experiments in artificial culture: from noisy imitation to storytelling robots. Phil. Trans. Royal. Soc. B 377: 20200323.
• Winfield AF, Michael K, Pitt J and Evers V (2019) Machine Ethics: The Design and Governance of Ethical AI and Autonomous Systems, Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 107, no. 3, pp. 509–517.
• Winfield A. (2019) Ethical standards in robotics and AI. Nature Electronics 2, 46–48.
• Winfield AFT and Jirotka M (2018), Ethical Governance is essential to building Trust in Robotic Systems, Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. A, 376: 20180085.
• Vanderelst D and Winfield AF. (2018) An architecture for ethical robots inspired by the simulation theory of cognition. Cognitive Systems Research, 48. pp. 56–66.
• Erbas MD, Bull L and Winfield AFT (2015), On the Evolution of Behaviours through Embodied Imitation, Artificial Life, 21 (2), 141–165, MIT Press.
• Krause J, Winfield AFT, and Deneubourg J-L (2011), Interactive robots in experimental biology, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 26 (7).
• Liu W and Winfield AFT (2010). A Macroscopic Probabilistic Model for Collective Foraging with Adaptation, International Journal of Robotics Research, 29 (14), 1743–1760.
• Winfield AFT, Liu W, Nembrini J and Martinoli A (2008), Modelling a Wireless Connected Swarm of Mobile Robots, Swarm Intelligence, 2 (2–4), 241–266.

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Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century British engineers

Category:Academics of the University of the West of England, Bristol

Category:Alumni of the University of Hull

Category:People from Burton upon Trent