More than 60 guests gathered at the St. Regis San Francisco for a TIME100 Impact Dinner, honoring the extraordinary women who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence. These women, including activists, researchers, policy shapers, and technologists, were recognized as leaders in the field and were featured in the inaugural TIME100 AI list.
The evening started with a toast from Fei-Fei Li, a Stanford professor, who emphasized the importance of investment in public-sector AI development. Li pointed out that while many significant machine learning models are produced in industry, academia seems to lag behind. However, Li expressed optimism, stating that policymakers are beginning to engage more with the field.
Anna Makanju, the vice president of global affairs at OpenAI, expressed her gratitude for being able to contribute to AI and spoke about the optimism she feels, despite the current state of the world. She highlighted the personal stories she’s heard of people being empowered by AI, from a blind colleague using AI to navigate the world to an AI-powered app that helps people overcome language barriers. Makanju believes that AI enables access to previously unimaginable opportunities.
Nancy Xu, the founder and CEO of Moonhub, called for a change in the narrative surrounding AI. She urged guests to develop and adopt AI in a way that creates opportunities for people rather than taking them away. Xu wants AI to be seen as an engine for opportunity, helping people find better jobs and more fulfilling work.
Sneha Revanur, the founder of Encode Justice, a nonprofit focused on AI’s impacts, stressed the importance of including youth in AI debates. She believes that the technology being built today will shape the world that her generation inherits, and they are determined to actively co-create that world.
Kimberly Bryant, the founder of Black Girls Code, used her toast to emphasize the collective responsibility of society in shaping the AI revolution. She believes that it is crucial for AI to benefit all, especially marginalized communities. Bryant called for identifying and mitigating biases in AI algorithms, as well as demanding transparency and accountability in AI development.
Sarah Conley Odenkirk, a partner at Cowan DeBaets Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, drew comparisons between the crypto rush and AI. She urged those thinking about the impact of AI on the arts to take a less speculative and more deliberate approach. Odenkirk emphasized the need to build guardrails and infrastructure to protect human-generated creative expression and carefully evaluate the nature and value of AI’s output.
The TIME100 Impact Dinner showcased the incredible contributions of women in the field of AI. These women are driving the development of AI and shaping the future of the technology. From advocating for public-sector investment to emphasizing the positive impact of AI on people’s lives, these leaders are guiding the way forward. As we continue to navigate the AI revolution, their insights and perspectives are invaluable in ensuring that AI is developed ethically and responsibly.
Use the share button below if you liked it.