Joy Buolamwini

Field: 

Artificial Intelligence, Social Justice.

Nationality: 

American.

Biography:

Joy Buolamwini is a pioneering figure in the intersection of artificial intelligence and social justice, recognized for her work in uncovering the biases embedded in AI technologies. She is the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing bias in artificial intelligence and advocating for more fair and transparent algorithms. Buolamwini's work is grounded in a deep belief that technology should serve all people equitably, regardless of race, gender, or identity.

Her MIT thesis uncovered alarming racial and gender biases in AI systems, particularly in facial recognition technologies used by companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon. Through rigorous research, she demonstrated that these AI systems were significantly less accurate at identifying people with darker skin tones and women, highlighting a critical flaw in the technology that has widespread social implications, including discrimination and misidentification.

In addition to her academic and research accomplishments, Buolamwini is an advocate and activist in the field of algorithmic justice. Her TED Talk, titled "How We Can Build AI to Help Humans, Not Harm Them", has been viewed over 1 million times and has become a key resource in the global conversation around AI ethics and fairness.

Buolamwini uses her platform to blend art and research, aiming to make complex technological issues accessible to the general public while also shedding light on the human cost of flawed AI systems. As a poet of code, she uses creative expressions to drive home the urgency of addressing algorithmic bias and ensuring that the development of AI benefits society as a whole.

Major Contributions & Achievements:

• Algorithmic Justice League: Founded the organization to expose and address the racial and gender biases in AI systems, advocating for more ethical and accountable technology.

• MIT Research: Her thesis uncovered substantial biases in facial recognition technologies, leading to widespread recognition of the need for regulation and fairness in AI development.

• TED Talk: Delivered a TED Talk that has garnered over 1 million views, educating audiences worldwide about the dangers of algorithmic bias and the importance of fairness in AI.

• Poet of Code: Uses art and creative expression to explore and communicate the societal impacts of AI, bringing an artistic perspective to a technical field.

Awards & Recognition:

• TED Fellow: Recognized for her work in AI ethics and social justice, and her influential TED Talk on algorithmic bias.

• Advocate for Social Justice in AI: Named one of the leading advocates for transparency and accountability in the development of AI technologies.

• Global Speaker: A sought-after speaker at global conferences, sharing her research and ideas on building more equitable AI systems.