AiLab Media Release: Dr. John Flackett awarded Honorary Doctor of Science

 

AI pioneer recognised with Honorary Doctorate from Southampton Solent University

Southampton, United Kingdom: Monday 14th July 2025

One of the global pioneers of AI, Dr John Flackett, has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by Southampton Solent University in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of Artificial Intelligence and his commitment to education.

This prestigious academic degree represents a higher level of achievement than a PhD and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated significant and sustained original contributions within their field over a number of years.

Dr Flackett is a recognised leader in the AI community. His ground-breaking AI research in the mid-1990s aided in the early understanding of the AI techniques and algorithms used today by the best-known large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT and Copilot. It focused on designing and building machines that could understand natural language and scale artificial neural networks to process vastly more sentences than had previously been achieved.

He graduated from Solent University (then Southampton Institute) as the first student to be awarded with a first-class honours on the BSc (Hons) Computer Studies course in 1996, going on to study PGCert Research in 1997 and then a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in 2005. During his PhD he started teaching at Solent University as a senior lecturer, delivering MSc and BSc Artificial Intelligence and BSc Computer Studies and Software Engineering for ten years.

In 2017 Dr Flackett co-founded AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory), an international company with offices in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. AiLab helps organisations navigate the AI landscape and learn about the exciting field of AI. Its workshops, talks and advisory services have helped thousands of people across the globe in their AI journey. AiLab trains organisations to be AI-ready, empowering them to develop AI skills and capability, and build effective strategies for implementing AI.

AiLab transforms how businesses use AI to increase profits, reduce costs and stay competitive, making AI accessible for organisations seeking real-world results and sustainable growth. AiLab’s workshops and strategic advisory services help organisations to harness the potential of AI by cutting through complexity to deliver practical insights to show businesses exactly how AI can work for them.

Working with large and small corporations and organisations, including some world-renowned technology companies, AiLab also works with numerous government departments at federal, state and local levels.

As an educator, Dr Flackett is dedicated to guiding individuals and organisations with responsibly adopting AI and his work at AiLab is pivotal in shaping the future of work and business through AI.

Commenting on his DSc from Solent University, Dr Flackett said: “I am delighted to be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science from my alma mater. The timing is particularly apt because it’s exactly twenty years since I achieved my PhD and thirty years since I began working in AI."

“This year is also the 20th anniversary of Solent University achieving degree-awarding powers and I was one of 50 staff members who were involved in helping the university achieve this."

“I am proud to be recognised for my work in the field of AI and for my dedication to education.”

Further Information

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Emma Berry (AiLab): Call (0)23 8129 0225 or email via our contact form.

AiLab website: https://www.ailab.world

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About AiLab

AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) assists organisations with navigating the AI landscape and learning about the exciting field of AI. Launched in 2017, AiLab has helped thousands of people within industry, government, community and academia across the globe in their AI journey through its world-class AI education, talks, research and advisory services. AiLab trains organisations to be AI-ready, empowering companies to develop AI skills and capability, and build effective strategies for implementing AI. 

AiLab has expanded into three countries with offices in Southampton, UK, in Adelaide, South Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand. With a background in AI academia, research and developing internal AI solutions for over a decade, the team at AiLab are qualified AI experts with extensive academic and industry experience and have been providing AI education and workshops to organisations around the world for many years. AiLab's custom workshops and masterclasses prepare key stakeholders for provider engagement and assist organisations with developing an understanding of current AI capabilities to make informed decisions, adopt AI-driven systems and successfully identify AI projects. AiLab has worked with numerous government departments at federal, state and local levels, as well as large and small corporations and organisations, including some world-renowned technology companies.

Partnering and collaborating with global experts, AiLab demystifies the world of AI through education, research and insights, showcasing how AI is transforming the world in which we live. AiLab also partners with academic institutions to help promote AI awareness, research and collaborations between industry and universities. AiLab has given hundreds of AI talks at global events and its consultancy and advisory services help guide organisations through their AI journey, as well as providing support for future AI needs.