University of Toronto to create AI role named after tech pioneer Geoffrey Hinton

Geoffrey Hinton is seen backstage before speaking at the Collision conference, in Toronto, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

The University of Toronto says it’s on the hunt for the next Geoffrey Hinton.

The school says it will create a new chair role named after the Nobel laureate and artificial intelligence pioneer.

• University of Toronto’s Geoffrey Hinton wins Nobel Prize in physics
• The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI

The Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence will help the university recruit, teach and train students and inspire promising AI startups.

They will also help fuel AI innovations across medicine, engineering, scientific discovery and the humanities and expand the university’s AI networks and international partnerships.

UofT says the new role will be supported by a $10 million donation from Google that the school will match.

Hinton, who is a professor emeritus at UofT, worked for Google until May 2023. He quit so he could discuss the dangers of AI without having to consider how his remarks would impact Google.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025.

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press