Peter Bentley

Dr Peter J. Bentley is a British author, computer scientist, consultant and entrepreneur. He has written several popular science books, including the recently published Artificial Intelligence in Byte-sized Chunks (2024).

Peter Bentley was born and educated in the UK. He obtained his B.Sc. in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) in 1993 and his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Computation in 1996. Bentley has also been a visiting professor at Autodesk and KAIST. He has also held visiting fellowships at SIMTech, A*STAR in Singapore, Goldsmiths College and the University of Kent.

Dr. Bentley's research focuses on various aspects of artificial intelligence, including evolutionary algorithms, computational development, neural networks, and artificial immune systems. These technologies are also used in robotics and nanotechnology. He leads the Digital Biology Interest Group at UCL, exploring the intersection of AI and biological systems.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Bentley is a successful entrepreneur, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Kazoova Ltd. He has previously served as CTO for other AI companies, demonstrating his commitment to bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical applications. His innovative work also includes the development of the bestselling iPhone app, iStethoscope Pro, and his contributions to the UK's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.

Dr. Bentley has published over 300 scientific papers and edited several influential books, such as Evolutionary Design by Computers, Creative Evolutionary Systems, and On Growth, Form and Computers. His writing extends beyond academic circles; he has authored popular science books like Digital Biology, The Book of Numbers, The Undercover Scientist, and 10 Short Lessons in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. As a freelance writer, he contributes to BBC Science Focus Magazine and has written for other notable publications, including New Scientist and THES.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bentley has given numerous lectures and keynote speeches at international conferences, appeared on radio and television programs, and hosted the Royal Institution's Cafe Scientifique. Additionally, he has been nominated for prestigious awards, including the $100,000 Edge of Computation Prize in 2005 and the AAAS Science Books & Films Prize in 2010.

Peter Bentley is currently an Honorary Professor and Teaching Fellow at the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL).

Photo credit: www.peterjbentley.com