PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Luc Steels

Also known as Luc Leo Steels

Luc Steels is a computer scientist who proposed the Naming Game in 1995 to study the origins of linguistic conventions. After linguistics degrees and time at MIT's AI lab, he led the group that developed the Dipmeter Advisor at Schlumberger in 1980. In 1983 he became a professor at the University of Brussels, and in 1996 he founded the Sony Computer Science Laboratory in Paris. With Ramon Lopez de Mantaras, he launched the Barcelona Declaration on the proper development and usage of artificial intelligence in Europe in 2018. As of October 2026, he is professor emeritus at the VUB, and EurAI gave him its Distinguished Service Award in 2022.

Timeline

  1. 1974–1977

    Linguistics degrees, then MIT

    He earns an M.A. in 1974 and a Ph.D. in linguistics in 1977. He then joins the AI lab at MIT as a new student in 1977.

  2. 1980–1983

    Dipmeter Advisor at Schlumberger

    In 1980 he joins the Schlumberger-Doll Research Laboratory in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where he leads the group that develops the Dipmeter Advisor. In 1983 he directs the AI laboratory at the University of Brussels (VUB).

  3. 1990s

    Robots built from Lego vehicles

    He changes the lab's work from LISP machines to small robots and Lego vehicles in the 1990s. With ethologist David McFarland, he sets up the self-sufficiency experiment.

  4. 1995–1996

    The Naming Game and Sony CSL

    He proposes the Naming Game in 1995 to study the origins of linguistic conventions and the formation of lexicons. In 1996 he founds the Sony Computer Science Laboratory in Paris and becomes its first director.

  5. 2011–2022

    An ICREA fellowship

    In 2011 he becomes an ICREA fellow. He retires from ICREA in January 2022.

  6. 2018

    The Barcelona Declaration

    He and Ramon Lopez de Mantaras launch the Barcelona Declaration on the proper development and usage of artificial intelligence in Europe in 2018. The declaration calls on agencies and European finance companies to invest in AI development.

  7. 2022

    A EurAI Distinguished Service Award

    EurAI awards him its Distinguished Service Award in 2022 for his contributions to AI organization in the European Union.

  8. As of October 2026

    Professor emeritus at the VUB

    He is professor emeritus at the VUB, where in 1983 he becomes a professor of computer science.

Sources and credits

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  1. Luc Steels - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Interview: Luc Steels – http://ii.tudelft.nl/bnvki/ ii.tudelft.nl. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Academy of Europe: Steels Luc ae-info.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. ICREAs Fitxa - ICREA icrea.cat. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Global experts agree on declaration for proper use and development of artificial intelligence in Europe biocat.cat. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Awards | European Association for Artificial Intelligence eurai.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. Luc Steels | Artificial Intelligence Lab Brussels ai.vub.ac.be. Checked 14 October 2026.
  8. Luc Steels, PhD upaya.org. Checked 14 October 2026.