Dr. David Gamez
David Gamez, Ph.D., MSc is author of Human and Machine Consciousness and is a leading expert in machine consciousness, artificial intelligence, and philosophy. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Middlesex University. The current focus of David’s pioneering research is centered on developing a universal measure of intelligence, pushing the boundaries of how we understand cognition in both natural and artificial systems.
Recognized by his peers as an innovative force in his field, David has earned multiple prestigious honors. These include the JTF Turing Research Fellowship (2012–2015), which awarded him £75,000 for his transformative three-year project The Scientific Study of Natural and Artificial Minds, and his selection into the Courvoisier Future 500 (2007) as one of the UK’s top 50 achievers in Science and Innovation. In 2023, David was the recipient of the Lab42 Essay Prize, for his winning essay on the properties required for virtual worlds to enable human-level artificial intelligence.
David is responsible for the development of SpikeStream, an efficient and quick neural simulator (capable of simulating up to 100,000 neurons). David's development of SpikeStream during his Ph.D. research for the CRONOS project set new benchmarks in computational neuroscience. SpikeStream’s genesis was among the notable achievements of his thesis, which also included successfully creating a framework that provides methods of describing and predicting the conscious states of artificial systems. As a result of the knowledge gleaned, one of the outcomes of this project was the creation of a neural network that enabled control of the eyes of the SIMNOS robot. Read The Development and Analysis of Conscious Machines.
From 2010 to 2012, David collaborated with Murray Shanahan in the Department of Computing at Imperial College London on the EPSRC-funded project Modular Neural Simulation with Reconfigurable Hardware. During this period, David integrated SpikeStream together with the NeMo CUDA-accelerated neural simulator, improving its performance. David would later play a key role in the development of the iSpike sensory interface for the iCub robot.
At the heart of David’s research is a multidisciplinary commitment to bridging science and philosophy. This is particularly evident when applied to examining the topic of consciousness. A thread that runs from his early innovations to his current focus on devising a new measure of intelligence based on prediction ability.
This recent work, the background for which is detailed in Measuring Intelligence in Natural and Artificial Systems and Intelligence and Consciousness in Natural and Artificial Systems, explores predictive intelligence through innovative experiments with maze-exploring agents and deep neural networks learning time series data. These efforts reflect his ongoing dedication to integrating theoretical frameworks with empirical validation, thereby advancing our understanding of intelligence and consciousness.
David’s early work laid a robust foundation for others to understand machine consciousness, notably through influential and often cited publications such as Progress in Machine Consciousness and The Potential for Consciousness of Artificial Systems. These papers offered nascent comprehensive insights into the potential for artificial systems to achieve consciousness, influencing both philosophical and scientific discourse in the field.
In his recent book Human and Machine Consciousness, David draws on his deep knowledge of philosophy, computer science, and neuroscience to craft an innovative scientific approach to understanding consciousness, leveraging mathematical models and AI to connect physical brain data with the inner experience of awareness. This book showcases his unique ability to blend philosophical reflection with cutting-edge computational techniques, offering fresh insights into consciousness across human and artificial realms, all presented with clarity and compelling examples for a broad audience.
David’s career demonstrates a breadth of academic versatility that is truly rare. His journey began at the University of Essex, where he earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy (1996–2001). During this time, he applied Continental philosophical methods to tackle complex self-reflective problems, setting the stage for his later explorations into consciousness. Simultaneously, he pursued an MSc in Information Technology at Queen Mary University of London (2000–2001). There, he distinguished himself by mastering programming languages like Java and C++, along with GUI design, UML, and database architectures — all of which culminated in his creation of an innovative editor and simulator for biologically structured neural networks.
Eager to expand his technical prowess, David continued his studies at the University of Essex, earning a second Ph.D. in Computing and Electronic Systems (2004–2008) under the esteemed guidance of Professor Owen Holland. This dual qualification uniquely equipped him to examine consciousness from both philosophical and computational vantage points.
David’s professional path mirrors his steady academic progression. Early in his career, he contributed as a Research Assistant at Queen Mary University of London (2001–2004), working on the IST Safeguard project, which focused on developing systems to protect critical infrastructure. He then advanced to a role as a Researcher in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Queen Mary (2004–2006), further honing his skills in anomaly detection and system reliability.
In the commercial sphere, David served as a Software Developer at Trinity Mirror Group (2008–2009), where he played a key role in back-end web development. Utilizing Java, Spring, and Oracle, he not only maintained existing platforms but also developed new services that enhanced the company’s websites. In 2007, he also shared his expertise as a lecturer at the International University of America in London, designing and teaching a course on Computer Applications in Business and Finance that combined core computing concepts with emerging topics like artificial intelligence and robotics.
His research career then led him to Imperial College London, where he first held a research associate position in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Systems (2009–2010) alongside Professor Igor Aleksander, focusing on innovative methods for neural network analysis. This was followed by another associate role in Imperial’s Department of Computing (2010–2012), where he collaborated with Professor Murray Shanahan on advancing simulation techniques for spiking neural networks.
From 2012 to 2015, David was a Research Fellow at the University of Sussex’s Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science. During this period, supported by the JTF Turing Research Fellowship, he led the project The Scientific Study of Natural and Artificial Minds. The frameworks and perspective fostered by this project in addition to the grant funding and resources would directly lead to the publication of his 2018 book Human and Machine Consciousness.
Since 2015, David has been an integral part of Middlesex University. Emerging initially as an Associate Lecturer (2015–2016), he then became a Lecturer (2016–2019). Now, as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science (2019–present), he supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students, delivers innovative courses, and continues his groundbreaking research in machine consciousness and artificial intelligence.
Throughout his career, David has established himself as a visionary at the intersection of multiple fields. His impactful work on machine consciousness, neural simulation, and intelligence measurement continues to shape how researchers approach the profound questions of cognition and awareness in both natural and artificial systems. As technology evolves and the boundaries between human and machine intelligence become increasingly nuanced, David's interdisciplinary approach and rigorous methodologies provide essential frameworks for the scientific community.
Whether through his influential publications, innovative systems like SpikeStream, or his current research developing universal intelligence metrics, David remains at the forefront of one of the most fascinating frontiers in contemporary science — the exploration of consciousness itself. His uncommon combination of philosophical depth and technical expertise positions him as a crucial voice in determining how humanity will understand, develop, and coexist with increasingly sophisticated artificial systems in the decades to come.
Watch Natural and Artificial Intelligence; Natural and Artificial Consciousness and David Gamez: Machine Consciousness and the AI Apocalypse.
Read Human and Machine Consciousness (Kindle version) and Which Properties and Structures must a Virtual World have to Enable the Successful Creation of Human-level Artificial Intelligence?
Stay up to date with David’s work by connecting with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, reading his publications on ResearchGate, or by visiting his personal website for a comprehensive look at his important work!