PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Ivan Bratko

Ivan Bratko is a computer scientist whose career spans artificial intelligence, logic programming and expert systems. He earned degrees in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Ljubljana, led the Intelligent Systems Section at the Jožef Stefan Institute until 2002, and headed the university’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory from 1985 to 2017. His Prolog Programming for Artificial Intelligence became one of the leading textbooks in AI and declarative programming, and he coauthored KARDIO on expert systems. He is a EurAI Fellow, received Slovenia’s Golden Order of Merit in 2026, and is a professor of computer science at the University of Ljubljana.

Born
1946
Badges

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

  1. 1970–1978

    Degrees at Ljubljana

    He earns an electrical engineering degree at the University of Ljubljana in 1970, a master’s degree in 1975, and a doctorate in computer science there in 1978.

  2. 1971

    A congress in Ljubljana

    Bratko collaborates with Donald Michie on early artificial intelligence research. In 1971, the 5th World Computer Congress is organized in Ljubljana.

  3. 1985–2017

    Leading AI laboratories

    He establishes the University of Ljubljana’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1985 and leads it until 2017. Until 2002, he also leads the Intelligent Systems Section at the Jožef Stefan Institute. His research spans machine learning, logic programming, qualitative modelling, intelligent robotics and computer chess.

  4. 1986–2012

    Prolog for artificial intelligence

    In 1986, he publishes Prolog Programming for Artificial Intelligence. The book becomes one of the leading textbooks in AI and declarative programming, with a fourth English edition in 2012.

  5. 1989

    KARDIO and expert systems

    He coauthors KARDIO: A Study in Deep and Qualitative Knowledge for Expert Systems with Igor Mozetič and Nada Lavrač in 1989.

  6. 2000

    A EurAI Fellowship

    He becomes a Fellow of the European Association for Artificial Intelligence (EurAI) in 2000.

  7. May 2026

    The Golden Order of Merit

    In May 2026, President Nataša Pirc Musar presents him with Slovenia’s Golden Order of Merit for contributions to artificial intelligence in Slovenia, machine learning and logic programming.

  8. As of October 2026

    Professor at Ljubljana

    He is a professor of computer science at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Computer and Information Science.

Career

  1. Since 1985University of LjubljanaFounder and Head, Professor of Computer Science
  2. Until 2002Jožef Stefan InstituteHead

Education

  1. 1978University of LjubljanaDoctorate in computer science
  2. 1975University of LjubljanaMaster's degree
  3. 1970University of LjubljanaElectrical engineering degree

From the biography.

  1. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIIncludes University of Ljubljana. We estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.
  2. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Ljubljana. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  3. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Ljubljana. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  4. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.

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. Bratko, Ivan (1946–) - Slovenska biografija slovenska-biografija.si. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. Opening of the Exhibition 50 Years of AI Development in Slovenia - AI Lab ailab.si. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. Ivan Bratko fri.uni-lj.si. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Ivan Bratko fri.uni-lj.si. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. Ivan Bratko — IAS / SAE ias.si. Checked 19 October 2026.
  6. Academician Professor Dr Ivan Bratko receives the Golden Order of Merit | University of Ljubljana uni-lj.si. Checked 19 October 2026.