GAIL Director appointed to lead next stages of development

In the next stage of University of Edinburgh’s Generative AI Laboratory development, Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy has been appointed as the first Director.

As Director, Professor Ramamoorthy will lead GAIL and bring together the diverse research expertise of the GAIL Fellows, who represent various disciplines across the University, through his visionary approach to generative AI. 

With a strong background in robotics, autonomous systems, and machine learning, Professor Ramamoorthy's research has consistently pushed the boundaries of how AI can assist and augment human capabilities in complex environments. 

His work has a strong ethical dimension, focusing on ensuring that AI systems operate safely and reliably. 

A photograph of Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy sitting at a desk with his right elbow on the desk. a desk with
Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy

Exceptional leadership

Professor Ramamoorthy is Chair of Robot Learning and Autonomy within the University’s School of Informatics, where he has been on the faculty since 2007. He brings a unique combination of exceptional leadership and research expertise in AI, generative AI, and robotics to his new role. 

His recent UKRI Turing AI World-leading Researcher Fellowship has enabled him to establish the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy, demonstrating his innovative approach and commitment to advancing the field. 

At GAIL, our goal is to harness the transformative potential of generative AI to foster innovative solutions across various sectors. By prioritising collaborative inter-disciplinary research and ethical frameworks, we aim to ensure that generative AI serves as a powerful tool to benefit all, enabling significant advancements while respecting and enhancing human values.

Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy GAIL Director

Successful first year

Professor Ramamoorthy takes on his new role after GAIL was led for the past year by three Interim Co-Directors: Professor Jane Hillston, Professor Kev Dhaliwal and Professor Mirella Lapata.

During their tenure, the GAIL Fellowship scheme was established, recruiting over 60 GAIL Fellows from across all three colleges of the University, highlighting GAIL's multidisciplinary approach.

GAIL Fellows

In partnership with the GAIL Fellows, five seminars, three workshops and one showcase were hosted in Edinburgh Futures Institute, bringing together leading minds from academia and industry to share cutting-edge insights into generative AI.

The GAIL Fellows also led on 12 seed-funded projects, exploring various aspects of generative AI, such as watermarking, its application in the creative industries, and modelling extreme events.

Next steps

Under Professor Ramamoorthy's leadership, GAIL is poised to become a leading international hub for generative AI research, attracting global talent and forging partnerships across academia, industry and civil society. 

Building on the University of Edinburgh's 62-year legacy in AI and computer science research, by tapping into a thriving AI landscape with recognised strengths in natural language processing, machine learning, and data-driven innovation.

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