Timnit Gebru

Timnit W. Gebru is an accomplished computer scientist born in Eritrea and raised in Ethiopia. With a focus on artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias, and data mining, she has made significant contributions to the field. As a co-founder of Black in AI, Gebru advocates for increased representation of Black individuals in AI development and research, striving to create a more inclusive environment in technology.

In addition to her advocacy work, Gebru founded the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR), furthering her commitment to ethical AI practices. Her expertise in the ethics of artificial intelligence has garnered her widespread recognition, including being named one of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune and one of Nature's ten people who shaped science in 2021.

Gebru's career took a controversial turn in December 2020 when she left her position as technical co-lead of the Ethical Artificial Intelligence Team at Google. Her departure followed a dispute over a paper she co-authored regarding the risks associated with large language models. The situation escalated when Google management requested the withdrawal of the paper, leading to a public outcry and discussions about the treatment of researchers in the tech industry.

Despite the challenges she faced, Gebru's influence continues to grow. In 2022, she was recognized as one of Time's most influential people, solidifying her status as a leading voice in the conversation about ethical AI and representation in technology.