Tom Everitt. Photo: Private.

Tom's path to mathematics was not entirely straightforward. He began his university studies in Umeå, in the north of Sweden, where he first studied cognitive science, an interdisciplinary field that connects computer science, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience and psychology. 

“It was a very broad and interdisciplinary education, and super interesting, but after a year I felt that I wanted to focus more on rigorous theory. So I ended up studying mathematics at Stockholm University,” Tom says. 

He moved to Stockholm and began his studies at the Department of Mathematics, where he first completed a bachelor's degree in mathematics, then obtained a master's degree with a combination of separate courses. 

“Those were fantastic years, during which I learned a huge amount that I still get a lot of use out of in my job. In addition to the math courses, I took many courses in theoretical philosophy, and courses in computer science with a particular focus on artificial intelligence,” he says.

The freedom at the Department of Mathematics was the start of his career 

The flexible structure of the mathematics program gave Tom a unique combination of mathematics, computer science, and philosophy. The lectures of the various courses were interspersed with homework and lab sessions. 

“One thing I appreciated was the freedom to choose many courses myself, the combination turned out to be an excellent foundation for a career in artificial intelligence. My studies gave me knowledge of and points of entry to the issues I was interested in, and it led to what I would say is my dream job. But the courses are fast-paced, so if you are not prepared for more or less what will come in the lecture, it is easy to lose track,” he says. 

To clear his mind and focus better on the lectures, Tom and his friends started a daring activity. 

“One thing I particularly appreciated about the Department of Mathematics was the proximity to the lake Brunnsviken and the beautiful nature around it. For a while, a few friends and I started each day with a morning dip. We started in August, and continued until the ice settled,” he says. 

Works to regulate artificial intelligence 

Today, Tom works as a researcher at the Google-owned AI company DeepMind, where he leads other researchers from various universities in both Europe and North America. 

“Since we believe that AI will have a very large impact on our future society, it is very important that we make the right decisions regarding these issues,” he says and continues: 

“We hope to connect many of the results we have already established into a more uniform theory for how we can build safe and ethical artificial intelligence. Hopefully, it will eventually help policymakers make the right decisions about how AI should be designed and regulated, so that AI can help us build a better world.”

What are your best tips and advice for new students studying mathematics at SU?

“Follow your interests, and try to understand why you are studying a certain course, and how it fits into your worldview and base of knowledge. Motivation is important, so thinking about these ‘meta-questions’ is a good investment. Learn the material in depth, and let the exam result be a side effect of things you understood. Last but not least, find other motivated students to study with. It makes it easier to keep motivation up, and you learn better when you explain and discuss.”