PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Brent Mittelstadt

Brent Mittelstadt is a data ethicist whose research links AI ethics with law and technology policy. He joined the Oxford Internet Institute as a Research Associate in 2014 and published work on algorithm ethics and counterfactual explanations for automated decisions. In 2019, he argued that AI development lacked common aims, professional norms, practical methods and accountability mechanisms; he received O2RB Excellence in Impact Awards for his explanation and fairness work in 2018 and 2021. As of October 2026, he is Professor of Data Ethics and Policy at Oxford, coordinates its Governance of Emerging Technologies programme across ethics, law and emerging technology, and leads an innovation governance project at the Weizenbaum Institute.

Works
100
Citations
13,660
h-index
33

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. October 2014–February 2017

    Research associate at Oxford

    From October 2014 to February 2017, he works as a Research Associate at the Oxford Internet Institute.

  2. 2016

    Mapping algorithm ethics

    With Patrick Allo, Mariarosaria Taddeo, Sandra Wachter and Luciano Floridi, he publishes “The ethics of algorithms: Mapping the debate” in 2016.

  3. 2018

    Explaining automated decisions

    In 2018, he publishes “Counterfactual Explanations Without Opening the Black Box: Automated Decisions and the GDPR” with Sandra Wachter and Chris Russell. Its counterfactual explanations identify the smallest change that can produce a desired outcome. He receives an O2RB Excellence in Impact Award in 2018 for his AI explanation and fairness work.

  4. 2019

    Ethical AI principles

    In 2019, he argues that AI development lacks common aims, professional norms, practical methods and accountability mechanisms, which limits the effect of high-level ethics principles.

  5. 2021

    A second impact award

    In 2021, he receives an O2RB Excellence in Impact Award for work on AI explanations, counterfactual explanations, and fairness and bias under non-discrimination law.

  6. 2022–2025

    Professor and research director

    At Oxford, he becomes Associate Professor in June 2022 and Professor of Data Ethics and Policy in August 2024. He serves as Director of Research from April 2022 to April 2025.

  7. 2025–2026

    A handbook and policy proposal

    He co-edits the Oxford Handbook on the Foundations and Regulation of Generative AI, published in 2025. In June 2026, he coauthors a proposal that asks policymakers to require measurable public-happiness benefits from companies that receive AI subsidies.

  8. As of October 2026

    AI governance roles

    As of October 2026, he is Professor of Data Ethics and Policy at Oxford and coordinates its Governance of Emerging Technologies programme across ethics, law and emerging information technologies. At the Weizenbaum Institute, he is a co-principal investigator and leads its Ethics and Governance of Innovation project.

Sources and credits

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  1. Professor Brent Mittelstadt oii.ox.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Counterfactual Explanations without Opening the Black Box: Automated Decisions and the GDPR arxiv.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Applying philosophy to artificial intelligence oxford.shorthandstories.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI nature.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Prof. Brent Mittelstadt weizenbaum-institut.de. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Rethinking EU AI policy: why public subsidies for AI should deliver real wellbeing oii.ox.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Governance of Emerging Technologies Group (GET) oii.ox.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.