Oxford AI Expert Michael Wooldridge Wins Faraday Prize, Warns Big Tech’s AI Race Mirrors Prisoner’s Dilemma

Michael Wooldridge has spent over three decades researching artificial intelligence and is known for translating complex ideas into plain language. His work includes the Ladybird Expert Books on AI and public lectures that use familiar examples, such as the movie *WarGames*, to illustrate concepts like reinforcement learning. Despite his prominence, he describes himself as a regular person who enjoys seeing others grasp new ideas.

In 2025 the Royal Society awarded Wooldridge the Faraday prize for his skill in explaining scientific concepts to a broad audience. He has stated that a robot takeover ranks low among his worries, placing it far down his list of concerns. Additionally, only about three percent of the data used to train GPT‑3 came from Wikipedia, highlighting the diverse sources that shape large language models.

Wooldridge draws a parallel between the AI race and the prisoner’s dilemma: each firm fears that if it slows down, rivals will gain an unbeatable advantage, yet if all race ahead without coordination, the result may be wasted effort, safety risks, and public backlash. He suggests that changing the game—through shared standards, third‑party incentives, or open communication—could improve outcomes for everyone involved.