# Tommy Thompson

> Dr Tommy Thompson is a Scottish game AI engineer, researcher, educator and founder of AI and Games. After a decade teaching in British universities, he turned his YouTube project into a full-time consultancy and publication that explains how artificial intelligence works in video games and helps studios use it with care.

- **Role:** Founder and director, AI and Games
- **Organizations:** AI and Games, Game AI Events CIC, University of Derby, Anglia Ruskin University, King’s College London, Table Flip Games
- **Nationality:** Scottish
- **Education:** PhD in computer science (game AI research), University of Strathclyde, MSc in artificial intelligence, University of Edinburgh, BSc in computer science, University of Strathclyde
- **Known for:** Published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers on machine learning for games, non-player character design and procedural content generation, according to his biography., Built AI and Games from a 2014 YouTube project into a channel with millions of views and an audience of more than 250,000 across its platforms, according to AI and Games., Helped establish the AI and Games Conference, which began in London in 2024.

## Career timeline

- **2010** — Defended a PhD in AI for games; later worked briefly in investment banking.
- **2012** — Began teaching computer science at the University of Derby and later led its BSc in Computer Games Programming.
- **2014** — Started the AI and Games YouTube series as a side project while lecturing.
- **2017** — Began consulting with game companies on AI development and communication.
- **2019** — Established AI and Games as a professional services business.
- **2022** — Left academia to work full-time as a game AI consultant and engineer.
- **2024** — Led the first AI and Games Conference in London.
- **2026** — Launched the AI and Games podcast and expanded conference programming at gamescom dev.

## Achievements

- Published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers on machine learning for games, non-player character design and procedural content generation, according to his biography.
- Built AI and Games from a 2014 YouTube project into a channel with millions of views and an audience of more than 250,000 across its platforms, according to AI and Games.
- Helped establish the AI and Games Conference, which began in London in 2024.
- Serves on the advisory board for the GDC AI Summit and the industry advisory board for the UK IGGI doctoral consortium.
- Wrote the foreword to the second edition of Artificial Intelligence and Games.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Interviewed at Gamescom about AI productivity claims and why developer experience matters alongside speed.
- **2026-08** — Discussed the state of game AI and the use of smaller, focused models in an interview with Video Games Industry Memo.
- **2026-06** — Launched a fortnightly AI and Games podcast with analysis and interviews.
- **2026-03** — Published the third part of his essay on game AI’s future and the confusion between game AI and generative AI.

## Links

- Website: https://www.aiandgames.com/
- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/t2thompson
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/AIandGames
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AIandGames
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aiandgames.com
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aiandgames

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tommy-thompson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-29