Flew home as Will Flintoft, returned as Rhodes Scholar - Harvard Gazette

"Part of the trajectory I see for myself is lending a perspective which is both technically informed, but also deeply plugged into ethics,"

"We seem to be at this really catalytic moment in the world with regards to large language models and machine learning more generally. There's a lot of work to be done making sure that this kind of technology is being developed in a way that's smart and also sensitive to the ways in which it can go wrong and where there can be pitfalls."

"Both rounds of interviews were with the full selection panel, which is composed of former Rhodes scholars who have gone on to do really fascinating, cool things, as well as really important figures in the Australian community,"

Will Flintoft, a senior concentrating in mathematics and philosophy, received a Rhodes Scholarship and will pursue advanced degrees in mathematics and foundations of computer science and in philosophical theology at the University of Oxford. He is also completing a concurrent master's degree in applied mathematics at Harvard SEAS. He plans to integrate technical knowledge with ethical insight to address risks associated with large language models and machine learning, aiming to ensure responsible development and awareness of potential pitfalls. Flintoft applied in August, advanced as the Victoria finalist, completed virtual and in-person panel interviews, and learned of his selection the same day.

Read at Harvard Gazette