PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Alex John London

Alex John London is a philosopher at Carnegie Mellon University whose work examines algorithmic bias and the ethics of medical AI. After studying philosophy and literature at Bard College, he completed an MA at the University of Virginia in 1996 and a doctorate there in 1999. He joined Carnegie Mellon in 2000 and became director of its Center for Ethics and Policy in 2007. In 2023, he and Hoda Heidari proposed a framework for AI that helps people advance their own goals while respecting their rights. As of October 2026, he is K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies and co-leads the university's K&L Gates Initiative.

Works
193
Citations
5,730
h-index
41
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. By 1999

    Degrees at Bard and Virginia

    He earns a BA in philosophy and literature at Bard College. At the University of Virginia, he completes an MA in philosophy in 1996 and a PhD in philosophy in 1999.

  2. 2000–2007

    Joining Carnegie Mellon

    In 2000, he joins Carnegie Mellon University as a faculty member. He becomes director of its Center for Ethics and Policy in 2007.

  3. 2011

    A Hastings Center fellowship

    The Hastings Center elects him a fellow in 2011 for his work in bioethics.

  4. 2017

    Algorithmic bias in autonomous systems

    With David Danks, he coauthors Algorithmic Bias in Autonomous Systems at IJCAI in 2017. The paper classifies types and sources of bias and examines their effects on autonomous systems.

  5. 2019–2025

    WHO guidance on medical AI

    From 2019 to 2025, he serves on the World Health Organization's Expert Group on Ethics and Governance. The group publishes Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health in 2021 and Guidance on Large Multi-Modal Models in 2024.

  6. 2022

    For the common good

    Oxford University Press publishes his book For the Common Good: Philosophical Foundations of Research Ethics in 2022. It connects research ethics to social justice and the treatment of research participants as free and equal people.

  7. August 2023

    Beneficent intelligence

    In August 2023, he and Hoda Heidari release Beneficent Intelligence. Their framework sets out conditions for AI to help people advance their life plans and well-being while respecting their rights.

  8. November 2023

    The K&L Gates professorship

    Carnegie Mellon recognizes his appointment as K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies at a November 2023 ceremony. He also co-leads the ethics core of the National Science Foundation AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups.

  9. As of October 2026

    AI ethics at Carnegie Mellon

    As of October 2026, he is K&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies in Carnegie Mellon's Department of Philosophy. He co-leads the K&L Gates Initiative in Ethics and Computational Technologies.

Career

  1. NowCarnegie Mellon UniversityK&L Gates Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies, Co-lead
  2. From 2023AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked GroupsEthics Core Co-lead
  3. 2019–2025World Health OrganizationExpert Group on Ethics and Governance Member

Education

  1. 1999University of VirginiaPhD in Philosophy
  2. 1996University of VirginiaMA in Philosophy
  3. Bard CollegeBA in Philosophy and Literature

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Colleagues

People named in this biography, and people with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. Alex John London at Carnegie Mellon University experts.cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  2. Alex John London | Pitt Bioethics bioethics.pitt.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  3. Dietrich College’s Top Teaching Award Announced - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  4. Personal Mention - The Piper - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  5. Algorithmic Bias in Autonomous Systems | IJCAI ijcai.org. Checked 27 October 2026.
  6. Alex John London - Department of Philosophy - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  7. Carnegie Mellon Honors Three Faculty With Professorships - Department of Philosophy - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.
  8. [2308.00868] Beneficent Intelligence: A Capability Approach to Modeling Benefit, Assistance, and Associated Moral Failures through AI Systems arxiv.org. Checked 27 October 2026.
  9. Carnegie Mellon Names Three Students K&L Gates Initiative Presidential Fellows | Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences dietrich.pantheon.cmu.edu. Checked 27 October 2026.