AI Pioneer Richard Sutton Wins Turing Award for Groundbreaking Work in Reinforcement Learning

March 6th 2025

Richard Sutton, a professor at the University of Alberta and a key figure in reinforcement learning (RL), has been awarded the 2024 A.M. Turing Award - often called the "Nobel Prize of Computing" - alongside Andrew Barto. Sutton’s contributions, particularly through his foundational book Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction, have shaped AI’s modern trajectory, influencing fields from supply chain optimization to AI-driven chatbots.

His work has played a central role in Alberta’s rise as an AI research hub, where he co-founded Google DeepMind Alberta and continues to mentor new generations of AI researchers. Sutton's approach - focusing on understanding intelligence rather than just developing software - has cemented reinforcement learning as a pillar of AI research.

While the award celebrates Sutton’s legacy, it also raises questions about the future of reinforcement learning and AI ethics. As AI systems gain more autonomy, the principles he helped establish could shape how we balance AI’s potential with responsible innovation.

Cover image: Richard Sutton, a University of Alberta computing science professor and one of the founders of modern computational reinforcement learning, has been honoured as co-recipient of the 2024 Association for Computing Machinery A.M. Turing Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize in computing.” (Photo: Amii)

Source: University of Alberta