CMD-IT (Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT) celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the contributions of Black who are driving innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and using AI to drive innovations.
This month we highlight the organization, Black in AI (BAI), focusing on broadening inclusivity to remedy technology’s exclusionary past and affirm an equitable future. The organization was founded by Dr. Timnit Gebru and Dr. Rediet Abebe as a membership organization in 2017, with a mission to shift the power dynamic across the AI Ecosystem to broaden the range of voices contributing to the development, deployment, and regulation of AI technology.
Membership to BAI is free for AI practitioners and collaborators. Current members and allies total over 5900. Some member activities include hosting socials and workshops at key AI/ML conferences, providing travel grants to present work at their annual signature Black in AI Workshop, and partnering with TeachAI to guide the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI in schools.
Honoring Blacks in AI
- Gelyn Watkins – CEO, Black in AI
- Rand Forrester – leads and supervise diverse analytic projects
- Dr. Brandeis Marshall – data equity strategist
- Dr. Sanmi Koyejo – leads research in trustworthy AI
This Black History Month, let’s honor and uplift Black professionals, researchers and students in AI.