Welcome to B The Way Forward Interludes - a series of conversations that don’t necessarily fit in our regular season, but are just too good to not share.

Dr. Timnit Gebru is one of the leading voices in AI research calling for more responsible and inclusive AI systems.  Or, as she puts it - “a technological future that serves our communities instead of one that is used for surveillance, warfare, and the centralization of power by Silicon Valley.”  As the Founder and Executive Director of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR), Timnit isn’t just calling out the dangers of Big Tech’s approach to AI - she and her colleagues are working to forge new approaches and new ways to imagine what our future can look like. 

In part 2 of our conversation, Timnit shares why the “Distributed” aspect of DAIR is so important, the kinds of projects they undertake that could never be done within the halls of Big Tech or Academia, and why the current method of designing LLM’s flies in the face of core engineering principles.  

Plus, you all had a lot of questions about AI at our recent Responsible AI Forum by AnitaB.org - and Timnit has some answers for you.

For more, connect with Timnit

For more, check out Timnit and her work...

On Bluesky - @timnitgebru.bsky.social‬

On Mastodon - @timnitGebru@dair-community.social

On LinkedIn - /timnit-gebru-7b3b407

On X - @timnitGebru

---

At AnitaB.org, our mission is to enable and equip women technologists with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive. Through innovative programs and initiatives, we empower women to chart new paths, better prepared to lead, advance, and achieve equitable compensation. Because when women succeed, they uplift their communities and redefine success on their terms, both professionally and personally.

---

Connect with AnitaB.org

Instagram - @anitab_org

Facebook - /anitab.0rg

LinkedIn - /anitab-org

On the web - anitab.org 

---

Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.

---

B The Way Forward Is…

Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson.

Produced by Avi Glijansky

Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle

Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond 

Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski 

Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki

Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull.

Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman

Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine 

Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions

For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org