Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a multifaceted individual, known for her work as an MIT researcher and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. She is also an artist, recognized for her national bestseller Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines. Her expertise in facial recognition technologies and AI auditing has had a significant impact on the field and her work has been covered in over 40 countries.
One of Dr. Joy’s most notable contributions is the “Gender Shades” paper, which has been widely cited as one of the top AI ethics publications to date. Her TED Talk on algorithmic bias has garnered over 1.7 million views, showcasing her dedication to raising awareness about the societal impact of AI.
In addition to her research and advocacy work, Dr. Joy is also involved in providing expertise to congressional hearings and government agencies seeking to implement equitable and accountable AI policies. As the Poet of Code, she incorporates art to shed light on the societal impact of AI, with her artwork displayed across four continents.
Dr. Joy’s accomplishments are many, including being a Rhodes Scholar and Fulbright fellow, receiving multiple accolades such as the Technological Innovation Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and the 2024 NAACP-Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award, being featured in reputable publications such as TIME, New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic, and being central figure in Emmy-nominated documentary Coded Bias that has been translated into 30 languages and reached over 100 million viewers