Professor Kate Devlin Joins UK DSIT College of Experts on AI Policy

Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute at King's College London, has been appointed to the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) College of Experts. Selected through a highly competitive process, Devlin joins a network of leading specialists who will provide independent scientific and technical advice to support the UK government's science, technology, and innovation policies.

Key Highlights:

• Professor Kate Devlin has been appointed to the UK DSIT College of Experts
• She is among 71 experts selected from nearly 1,200 applicants
• The panel will provide independent scientific and technical advice on UK policy

Professor Kate Devlin, Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society in the Department of Digital Humanities at King's College London, has secured a place in the newly established DSIT College of Experts. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology formally launched the College on 18 June 2026 at the Royal Society in London to strengthen evidence-based policymaking through rapid access to specialist expertise.

Devlin is one of 71 experts selected from nearly 1,200 applicants representing universities, research organisations, and industry across the UK. Members of the College will volunteer up to five days each year, contributing through advisory discussions, workshops, peer reviews, and roundtable meetings. Although the role is unpaid, members receive reimbursement for travel and related expenses when required.

The College of Experts serves as an independent advisory network that enables DSIT to access timely scientific and technical guidance on emerging technologies and innovation challenges. Led by the department's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Chris Johnson, the initiative supports policy development across a broad range of science and technology issues. Its areas of focus include behaviour change, human factors, futures thinking, science communication, public engagement, and socio-technical approaches to technological development.

Devlin's appointment closely aligns with her interdisciplinary research, which explores how people interact with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. She currently leads King's College London's Digital Futures Institute while holding the position of Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society. Her work combines expertise in technology with insights from the humanities to examine the ethical and societal implications of AI.

Originally trained as an archaeologist, Devlin earned her undergraduate degree and MSc from Queen's University Belfast before completing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Bristol. Throughout her career, she has championed responsible innovation by addressing the social impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

She is also a co-investigator and King's College London lead for the UK Research and Innovation-backed Responsible AI UK programme, a £31 million initiative promoting the safe and ethical development of AI. Between 2020 and 2025, she served as Advocacy and Engagement Director for the Trusted Autonomous Systems Hub.