The Bernard Williams Essay Prize 2025
The 2025 competition is now open for entries! Organised by the Institute for Ethics in AI, this annual competition celebrates outstanding philosophical writing on the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence. The prize is open to Oxford University students who were undergraduates during Trinity Term 2025.
This year’s essay question is: Are AI systems better friends than humans?
The competition encourages original, rigorous, and thought-provoking engagement with the moral challenges posed by AI technologies. Check out the full details, including entry guidelines and the submission form.
Revisiting Previous Years
|2024
The Bernard Williams Essay Prize in 2024 attracted a substantial number of entries responding to the question, "Is AI a Threat to Human Creativity?" After careful consideration, three finalists—Xiaolan Deng (Christ Church), Madoc Wade (Wadham College), and Johann (Konrad) Wefing (St Catherine's College)—were invited to Oxford to present and defend their essays on Wednesday, 4 December 2024. All three students delivered excellent presentations. Professor John Tasioulas, Dr Caroline Green, and Professor Ignacio Cofone convened at the end to decide who should receive the top prize.
The £500 prize was awarded to Xiaolan Deng, with Madoc Wade and Johann Wefing as proximi accessit, each receiving £250. Patricia Williams joined us at the seminar and kindly presented the finalists with their well-earned prizes. The winner also received a personal gift from Patricia: a copy of Bernard Williams' Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, Routledge Classics (2011).
On the day of the seminar, the Director tweeted: "What an amazing performance by our three @EthicsInAI Bernard Williams Essay Prize finalists, producing talks that academics would be proud of. Congratulations to our winner, Xiaolan Deng, and the two runners-up, Johann Wefing and Madoc Wade. Thanks again to the great Patricia Williams."
Read the finalists essays here
|2023
The inaugural Bernard Williams Essay Prize in AI Ethics was recently awarded during a special lunchtime research seminar hosted by the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford. We were especially honoured to welcome Patricia Williams, widow of the late Sir Bernard Williams, who graciously joined us to present the prizes at the close of the event.
Sir Bernard Williams is widely recognised for viewing philosophy as a deeply humanistic pursuit—one that seeks to make sense of ourselves and our actions. He is also well-known for emphasizing the importance of distinct and conflicting values in our ethical lives, and opposing philosophical views that see our ethical lives as codifiable or calculable. He is also a great exemplar of interdisciplinary engagement in philosophy.
The competition, open exclusively to undergraduate students at Oxford, aims to inspire thoughtful engagement with the profound ethical questions raised by developments in Artificial Intelligence.
This year’s question—“What decisions should computers not make?”—attracted a significant number of entries. After careful consideration, three finalists were selected: Lina Alrawashdeh (PPE, Jesus College), Wyatt Radzin (PPE, Brasenose College), and Chase Mizzell (PPE, Harris Manchester College). They were invited to Oxford to present and defend their essays on Wednesday, 29th November, before a panel of judges: Professor John Tasioulas, Professor Peter Millican, and Dr Charlotte Unruh.
Lina Alrawashdeh was awarded the top prize of £500, while Wyatt Radzin and Chase Mizzell were named proximi accesserunt and each received £250. In a touching gesture, Patricia Williams also presented the winner with a personal gift: a copy of Essays and Reviews: 1959–2002 by Bernard Williams.
Reflecting on the event, the Institute’s Director shared on social media:
"Three wonderful young people who did Oxford proud today. Our profound thanks to Patricia Williams, who honoured us by presenting these brilliant students with their prizes. Many thanks to all who attended in person and online."
The seminar concluded with a relaxed buffet lunch in the Institute’s office space, fostering conversation and community. This competition marks the beginning of what promises to become a cherished annual tradition, encouraging the next generation of scholars to engage deeply with the ethics of AI.
Read the winning essay here
