I work in the areas of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). I studied Philosophy and Psychology at Oxford University, then did postgrad and postdoc work in AI at the University of Edinburgh. I worked at Otago University's Department of Computer Science from 1998 until 2022, and I now work at VUW's School of Engineering and Computer Science. As well as researching AI methods, I am also very interested in the ethics and social impacts of AI. I work in several groups studying these questions, including the Global Partnership for AI, the Christchurch Call, and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. I was a co-founder of Otago University's Centre for AI and Public Policy in 2018.

I have also been involved in commercial work in AI. I worked on a commercial contract with the Auckland-based AI company Soul Machines from its foundation in 2016 until 2023. I also worked on Soul Machines' ethics policy.