From Researcher to Artist: The Groundbreaking Work of Dr. Joy Buolamwini in AI Ethics
Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a groundbreaking researcher and artist who has dedicated her career to exploring the ethical implications of AI. She is best known for her work in facial recognition technology and her book, Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines. Her research on this topic has had a significant impact in the field of AI auditing, and has been covered in over 40 countries.
One of her most notable contributions is the “Gender Shades” paper, which is considered one of the most cited peer-reviewed AI ethics publications to date. In addition to her research, Dr. Joy also advises world leaders on preventing AI harms and provides expertise to congressional hearings and government agencies seeking to implement equitable and accountable AI policies.
Aside from her work as an AI researcher and advisor, Dr. Joy is also an artist who incorporates art into her work as the Poet of Code. Her artwork has been displayed across four continents and has been featured in various reputable publications such as TIME, New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic. She is also the central figure in the Emmy-nominated documentary Coded Bias, which has been translated into 30 languages and reached over 100 million viewers.
Dr. Joy’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as she has received multiple accolades for her work including the Technological Innovation Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and the 2024 NAACP-Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award. Fortune magazine has labeled her “the conscience of the AI revolution,” while Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in AI. Dr. Joy holds two master’s degrees from Oxford University and MIT, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she earned her Ph.D., and was honored with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Knox College for her contributions to art
