Angelo Dalli

Dalli was born in Malta and grew up in the town of Birżebbuġa. Dalli was educated at the Archbishop's Seminary, Malta and represented Malta in the Young European Environmental Research contest held in Cologne in 1994. Dalli represented Malta in the International Olympiad in Informatics held in Eindhoven in 1995, where he won a bronze medal.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ioinformatics.org/people/231|title=Angelo Dalli|publisher=International Olympiad in Informatics|accessdate=2018-12-02}} Dalli started selling computer software as a teenager, and worked for the International Data Group as a freelance contributor for PC World.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140422/thezone-careers/when-science-and-technology-meet.515988|title=When science and technology meet|publisher=Times of Malta|date=2014-04-22}}

After graduating from the University of Malta, Dalli spent time lecturing on artificial intelligence and natural language processing{{cite web|url=https://www.um.edu.mt/ict/ai/staff/angelodalli|title=Angelo Dalli|publisher=University of Malta|accessdate=2018-12-02}} before reading for his PhD at the University of Sheffield under the supervision of Yorick Wilks. Dalli has published over 23 peer reviewed papers in the artificial intelligence and natural language processing fields, including one of the earliest methods on timestamp extraction from documents that is now commonly used in most email applications.{{cite web|url=http://staff.um.edu.mt/adal1/publications.html

|title=Angelo Dalli UoM Homepage|publisher=University of Malta|accessdate=2018-12-02}}{{cite web|url=https://dblp.org/pers/hd/d/Dalli:Angelo

|title=Angelo Dalli Publications|publisher=DBLP|accessdate=2018-12-02}}{{cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5wWCJZsAAAAJ&hl=en|title=Angelo Dalli Google Scholar|accessdate=2018-12-02}}{{cite web|url=https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7084-1303

|title=Angelo Dalli|publisher=ORCID|accessdate=2023-11-10}} Angelo has also contributed to the encoding of European languages in Unicode, in particular for the Common Locale Data Repository.{{cite web|url=http://cldr.unicode.org/index/acknowledgments|title=Unicode CLDR Acknowledgements|publisher=Unicode Consortium|accessdate=2018-12-02}}

In the field of Bioinformatics Dalli has found a particularly useful integer sequence {{OEIS|id= A062208}} which efficiently computes all alignments of strings of length 3 together with other generalisations {{OEIS|id= A062204}}, {{OEIS|id= A062205}} for applications in natural language and sequence alignment. Dalli has an Erdős number of 3.{{cite web |title=Collaboration paths to Paul Erdős |publisher=The Erdős Number Project |url=https://www.oakland.edu/enp/erdpaths/collaboration-paths-to-paul-erdos |access-date=17 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214222728/http://www.oakland.edu/enp/erdpaths/collaboration-paths-to-paul-erdos |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}

Dalli has led the Maltese national informatics team in the International Olympiad in Informatics at IOI 2002 in Seoul, South Korea and IOI 2004 in Athens, Greece.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20020820/local/informatics-students-at-s-korean-olympiad.168734

|title=Informatics students at S. Korean olympiad|publisher=Times of Malta|date=2002-08-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040920/local/malta-wins-bronze-in-informatics-olympiad.112005

|title=Malta wins bronze in informatics Olympiad|publisher=Times of Malta|date=2004-09-20}}

Angelo has been a vocal proponent of trustworthy AI{{cite web|title=The use of AI in our daily life, exclusive interview with Angelo Dalli|url=https://picante.today/technology/2018/08/21/2838/the-use-of-ai-in-our-daily-life-exclusive-interview-with-angelo-dalli/|publisher=Picante Media|date=2018-08-21}}{{cite web|title=Brave, new (and slightly scary) world|url=http://uploads.maltatoday.com.mt/news/interview/90833/brave_new_and_slightly_scary_world#.XANNvGhKjZs|publisher=Malta Today|date=2018-11-11}} that impacts society positively and believes that AI should be properly regulated. Angelo has co-founded UMNAI{{cite web|title=Interview with Angelo Dalli, co-founder of UMNAI|url=https://www.aitimejournal.com/interview-with-angelo-dalli-ceo-co-founder-at-umnai//|publisher=AI Time Journal|date=2020-07-09}} in 2019, with the aim of creating a new form of trustworthy AI that can explain the decisions and steps that the AI has taken to output an answer,{{cite web|title=BLOCK 101: Angelo Dalli and the future of AI|url=https://aibc.world/news/block-101-angelo-dalli-and-the-future-of-ai/|publisher=AIBC|date=2022-05-04}} based on a neurosymbolic AI architecture that combines neural and symbolic AI in an auditable and certain manner.{{cite web|title=WAICF2025: Why neurosymbolic AI is the future of trustworthy AI (WAICF 2025 Keynote)|url=https://www.worldaicannes.com/en-gb/program/conferences/session-detail.4139.231513.why-neurosymbolic-ai-is-the-future-of-trustworthy-ai.html|publisher=WAICF|date=2025-02-13}}

Angelo led the Government of Malta taskforce that produced Malta's new AI regulation and national AI strategy,{{cite web|title=Malta.ai Taskforce Members|date=19 February 2017 |url=https://malta.ai/the-team/|publisher=Government of Malta|accessdate=2018-12-02}} and is an active member of the IEEE, AAAI, ACM and the ACL.

Angelo had led the introduction of different machine learning techniques in intelligent transport systems (ITS), including parking,{{cite web|title=Driving change: a leader in smart road technologies|url=https://maltaprofile.info/article/driving-change-a-leader-in-smart-road-technologies

|publisher=Malta Profile|accessdate=2018-12-02}} controlled vehicle access zones{{cite journal|title=The implementation of road user charging and the lessons learnt: the case of Valletta, Malta|url=https://www.academia.edu/7394210|journal=Journal of Transport Geography|date=2010|volume=18|issue=1|pages=14–22|last1=Ison|first1=Stephen G.|last2=Attard|first2=Maria|doi=10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2009.05.009|bibcode=2010JTGeo..18...14A }} and dynamic traffic interchange control.{{cite web|title=Ambitious growth drive by transport IT systems firm|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120520/business-news/Ambitious-growth-drive-by-transport-IT-systems-firm.420454|publisher=Times of Malta|date=2012-05-20}} His intelligent transport company, Traffiko, operated in Europe, Australia and the Middle East, and was eventually sold to Q-Free in Norway in 2015.{{cite web|title=Q-Free acquires parking management solutions company|url=http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/charging-tolling/news/q-free-acquires-parking-management-solutions-company/|publisher=ITS International|date=2015-05-15}}

Angelo is a well known speaker in the online gambling industry.{{cite web|title=Angelo Dalli articles|url=https://calvinayre.com/tag/angelo-dalli/|publisher=Calvin Ayre|accessdate=2018-12-02}}

Angelo setup one of the first companies that applied artificial intelligence in the online gambling industry, called Bit8 (now part of Intralot),{{cite web|title=Innovation in iGaming Profiles: Bit8|url=https://calvinayre.com/2014/08/29/business/innovation-in-igaming-profiles-bit8-bl-video/|publisher=Calvin Ayre|date=2014-08-29}} with the most notable work being on algorithms that estimate and maximise player lifetime value and personalised bonusing systems.{{cite web|title=Cover Story: Angelo Dalli|url=https://www.mga.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/SiGMAgazine-Issue-4.pdf|publisher=SIGMA|date=2016-04-01}} These techniques have since been widely adopted by the online gambling industry{{cite web|title=MCA Feature on Bit8 Platform|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMCHSTSL0lc|publisher=Malta Communications Authority|date=2016-03-21}}{{cite web|title=Working Smarter|date=July 2016 |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160701/technology/working-smarter.617281|publisher=Times of Malta|accessdate=2016-07-01}} Intralot subsequently bought Bit8 in 2017.{{cite news|title=Intralot buys 35 pct stake in Bit8|date=30 July 2015 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSFWN1090B120150730|work=Reuters|accessdate=30 July 2015}}

Angelo has been collaborating various artists and creatives to teach AI about creativity. The results of this collaboration is the UMA AI entity, short for Universal Machine Artist. Angelo has also co-founded the Creative Science and Arts Institute to act as a foundation for future research into AI, science, technology and creativity.

UMA is creating original artwork using a modified Generative adversarial network has a third component, the human artist, to produce different learning results than standard generative AI models.{{cite web|title=Maltese Artist Auctions Off One Of The World's First Robot Paintings For A Huge Sum Of Money|url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/technology/maltese-artist-auctions-off-one-of-the-worlds-first-robot-paintings-for-a-huge-sum-of-money|publisher=Lovin Malta|date=2018-10-31}}{{cite web|title=Maltese Artist Auctions Off 'Evolved' Robot Painting For €18,000: 'It's Like She's In My Soul'|url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/art/maltese-artist-auctions-off-evolved-robot-painting-its-like-shes-in-my-soul|publisher=Lovin Malta|date=2018-11-29}} The underlying discriminator in UMA started from an anti-fraud detection system and has now gradually evolved to add stable diffusion and procedural generation methods.{{cite web|title=Arts Council Malta Projects|url=https://artscouncilmalta.gov.mt/pages/funds-opportunities/schemes-2021/project-support-scheme/|publisher=Arts Council Malta|date=2021-09-13}}

The first two artworks generated by UMA were auctioned in October and November 2018 respectively, with all proceeds donated to charity and good causes.{{cite web|title=Art vs. Artificial – a world-first auction of a human-AI art part|url=https://maltablockchainsummit.com/malta-blockchain-news/art-vs-artificial-a-world-first-auction-of-a-human-ai-art-part/|publisher=Malta Blockchain Summit|date=2018-10-24}}{{cite web|title=But is it art? Maltese artist Mark Mallia teaches AI system rudiments of painting|url=http://uploads.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/art/90474/but_is_it_art_maltese_artist_mark_mallia_teaches_ai_system_rudiments_of_painting_#.XANiEWhKjZs|publisher=Malta Today|date=2018-10-28}}{{cite web|title=Art vs. Artificial|url=https://medium.com/@angelodalli/art-vs-artificial-c6be35c8e5c0|publisher=Medium.com|date=2018-10-26}}

Ongoing work in improving UMA and furthering collaboration with other artists is ongoing. Notable exhibitions include Tomorrow's Blossoms with Selina Scerri at Esplora Museum in 2024, which explored the theme of AI and emotions.{{cite web|title=Tomorrow's Blossoms: Hybrid Thinking|url=https://www.csai.io/tomorrows/|publisher=CSAI|date=2024-07-01}}{{cite web|title=Tomorrow's Blossoms|url=https://www.frieze.com/event/tomorrows-blossoms-ai-art-exhibition-selina-scerri-x-angelo-dalli|publisher=Frieze|date=2024-10-03}}

Angelo is an angel investor active in the high-tech startup scene,{{cite web|title=AngelList – Malta Investors|url=https://angel.co/malta/investors|publisher=AngelList|accessdate=2018-12-02}}{{cite web|title=Angelo Dalli Cover Story: For the love of Mathematics|date=21 April 2016 |url=https://issuu.com/sigmapublication/docs/n0900_-_sigmagazine_issue_4_issuu_n|publisher=SiGMA|accessdate=2018-12-02}} and is a member of EBAN, and World Business Angel Forum senator.{{cite web|title=Zest: The Art of the Exit – Angelo Dalli|url=https://wbaforum.org/Senators/Detail/MALTA/130|accessdate=2020-04-01}} Angelo has been encouraging Maltese startups via various public events including the Zest{{cite web|title=Zest: The Art of the Exit – Angelo Dalli| website=YouTube | date=13 December 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYt-wwtDGBk|accessdate=2018-12-02}} and Budding Rockstars{{cite web|title=Malta's brightest youths turn tech entrepreneurs for a day|date=26 November 2017 |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171126/technology/Malta-s-brightest-youths-turn-tech-entrepreneurs-for-a-day.664151|publisher=Times of Malta|accessdate=2018-12-02}} conferences and co-founded BAM, the Malta Business Angel network, in 2019.{{cite web|title=The first angel investor network of Malta launched by Dr Angelo Dalli|date=7 December 2019 |url=http://angel-investor.review/the-first-angel-investor-network-of-malta-launched-by-dr-angelo-dalli-wbaf-senator-malta/|publisher=Angel Investor Review|accessdate=2019-12-07}}

• Bronze Medal, International Olympiad in Informatics (1995)
• Malta Top Entrepreneur Award (2019){{cite web|title=Angelo Dalli awarded Chairman Value Award 2019|url=https://www.mbrpublications.com/previous-events

|publisher=MBR|accessdate=10 Aug 2020}}

• Malta Top Entrepreneur Award (2014){{cite web|title=MSV Life Top Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2014|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-05-21/company-news/msv-life-top-entrepreneur-of-the-year-awards-2014-5104173056/|publisher=The Malta Independent|accessdate=21 May 2014}}
• WIPO IP Enterprise Award for the UMNAI Neuro-symbolic AI architecture (2022){{cite web|title=Intellectual Property Award 2022|url=https://commerce.gov.mt/en/malta-intellectual-property-awards/malta-intellectual-property-awards-2022/|publisher=Government of Malta|accessdate=1 Dec 2024}}

• Intralot Bit8 EGR Rising Star Award (2014){{cite web|title=Gaming Software's Rising Star|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/business/business_news/59798/gaming_softwares_rising_star|publisher=Malta Today|accessdate=3 December 2014}}{{cite web|title=Two Maltese firms achieve global recognition for remote gaming technology and expertise|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-06-23/news/two-maltese-firms-achieve-global-recognition-for-remote-gaming-technology-and-expertise-5581242372/

|publisher=The Malta Independent|accessdate=23 June 2014}}

• Intralot Bit8 Malta Communication Authority eBusiness Award for the Best B2B application (2015){{cite web|title=eBusiness Awards 2015 Winners|url=http://ebusinessawards.mca.org.mt/past-editions/2015|publisher=Malta Communications Authority|accessdate=1 July 2016}}
• Intralot Bit8 Malta iGaming Award for Excellence (2017){{cite web|title=Gaming Malta 2017 Edition|url=http://www.mga.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/GAMINGMALTA-2017-EDITION.pdf|publisher=Country Profiler|accessdate=1 February 2017}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:Machine learning researchers

Category:Artificial intelligence researchers

Category:Natural language processing researchers

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield