PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Shannon Vallor

Shannon Vallor holds the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, where her research explores how AI, robotics and data science reshape human moral character. She earned her PhD in philosophy from Boston College in 2001 and became a professor at Santa Clara University in 2003. From 2018 to 2020 she worked as a visiting researcher and AI ethicist at Google. In February 2020 she joined Edinburgh, and Oxford University Press published her book The AI Mirror in 2024. The International Association for Computing and Philosophy gave her the 2022 Covey Award, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh elected her a Fellow in 2026.

Works
100
Citations
3,035
h-index
20

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2001

    A Boston College doctorate

    She earns her PhD in philosophy from Boston College in 2001.

  2. 2003

    Philosophy professor at Santa Clara

    She is appointed a professor in the philosophy department of Santa Clara University in 2003.

  3. 2018–2020

    An AI ethicist at Google

    She serves as a visiting researcher and AI ethicist at Google from 2018 to 2020.

  4. February 2020

    A move to Edinburgh

    She joins the University of Edinburgh in February 2020, coming from Santa Clara University.

  5. 2022

    A Covey Award

    She receives the 2022 Covey Award from the International Association for Computing and Philosophy.

  6. 2024

    The AI Mirror

    She publishes The AI Mirror with Oxford University Press in 2024.

  7. 2026

    A Royal Society of Edinburgh fellowship

    She is elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2026.

  8. As of October 2026

    The Baillie Gifford Chair

    Her research explores how AI, robotics and data science reshape human moral character and habits. She holds the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Sources and credits

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  1. Shannon Vallor - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Shannon Vallor - University of Edinburgh Research Explorer research.ed.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. First appointment made to professorial chair supported by Baillie Gifford at University of Edinburgh | Scottish Financial News scottishfinancialnews.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Philosophy Professors honoured by Scotland's National Academy ppls.ed.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Shannon Vallor | The University of Edinburgh edwebprofiles.ed.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.