Richard Sutton keynote speaker

Richard Sutton is one of the world’s foremost authorities on artificial intelligence and a pioneer of reinforcement learning, the field that has profoundly shaped how machines learn from experience. A Professor of Computing Science at the University of Alberta and Chief Scientific Advisor at the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), Sutton has dedicated his career to developing the foundations of AI systems that can make decisions, adapt, and improve through interaction with their environment. His research and insights have influenced both academia and industry, laying the groundwork for many of the breakthroughs that define modern AI.

Widely recognized as a trailblazer, Sutton has authored seminal works that continue to guide generations of AI researchers and practitioners. His book Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction, co-written with Andrew Barto, is considered the definitive text in the field and remains the cornerstone for anyone seeking to understand the principles of learning through trial and error. His career has spanned roles at global technology leaders including Google DeepMind, where his ideas helped drive advancements in intelligent systems.

In 2025, Sutton’s profound impact on the development of reinforcement learning and its role in shaping the AI revolution was honored with the prestigious Turing Award, the highest distinction in computer science. His vision emphasizes building AI that learns continually and autonomously, not just to solve predefined problems but to expand intelligence itself.

Today, Sutton continues to inspire as a researcher, educator, and thought leader, engaging audiences with a rare combination of deep technical expertise, historical perspective, and a bold view of AI’s future. His work challenges us to imagine not only what AI can achieve but also how it can expand our understanding of intelligence in both machines and humanity.