The Scent of Thought: Dogs, Humans and the Future of Mind

Richard Russell is a British author, engineer and AI leader, and the founder of AI Venture X. His writing explores intelligence, power and human agency: how people retain responsibility and meaningful choice as machines and institutions become more capable.

His non-fiction includes The Consequence Machine: AI Agents, Superintelligence and the Fight to Stay in Control; The Hollow State: Why Britain Still Votes But No Longer Chooses; and The Scent of Thought: Dogs, Humans and the Future of the AI Mind. His forthcoming novel, The Signal Inside, is Book One of The Intelligence Threshold.

Alongside his writing, Richard designs and operates agentic AI systems through AI Venture X, drawing on more than two decades of engineering, technology leadership and enterprise programme delivery. His practical work focuses on useful automation, clear permissions, human oversight and accountable decisions.

His creative work also includes Night Harbour Records, bringing together five music acts across jazz, pop, country, rock and synthwave. He lives in the United Kingdom with his family and their German Shepherd, Max.