Stuart Russell receives ACM’s AAAI Allen Newell Award

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has presented Stuart J. Russell, professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, with the AAAI Allen Newell Award in recognition of his foundational contributions to the field of artificial intelligence.

According to the ACM, the award is given to “career contributions that have breadth within computer science, or that bridge computer science and other disciplines.” The winners receive a $10,000 prize.

Russell is noted as a “pioneering thinker” in the world of AI. His 1995 textbook with Peter Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, continues to be widely used. Russell’s research has covered areas ranging from machine learning to multitarget tracking, and he’s working to shepherd the use of AI in ways that benefit humanity. To that end, he leads Berkeley’s Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence, which he founded in 2016.

Last month, he presented a lecture titled “How Not to Destroy the World with AI,” where he urged companies to regulate AI to ensure it furthers human interests. He has also joined leading experts in signing an open letter calling for a pause to giant AI experiments.