Professor Michael Wooldridge

Michael Wooldridge is a distinguished academic at the University of Oxford, holding the position of Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence. Widely recognised for his contributions to the field, he has previously served as the Head of the Department of Computer Science at Oxford. His research focuses predominantly on multi-agent systems, where he utilises computational logic and game theory to understand the interactions of self-interested digital entities. A highly decorated figure in computer science, he is the recipient of the British Computer Society's prestigious Lovelace Medal and the Outstanding Educator Award from the Association for the Advancement of AI. Beyond his academic research, he has held influential leadership roles as President of both the European Association for AI and the International Joint Conference on AI. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the primary academic journal in his discipline, Artificial Intelligence. As a prolific author, Michael has penned over 300 publications, including the highly acclaimed titles The Ladybird Expert Guide to AI and The Road to Conscious Machines. He is a frequent commentator for international media and a popular speaker at forums such as the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Hay Festival. Audiences book Michael for his unique ability to simplify complex technological concepts into clear, strategic narratives for the modern era. On stage, Professor Michael Wooldridge is best known for talks on AI and Digital Business & Strategy. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across AI, Education and Technology, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Professor Michael Wooldridge is regularly booked for Business Speaker and Conference Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Professor Michael Wooldridge travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Professor Michael Wooldridge would approach your audience.