Timnit Gebru is shaping the future of tomorrow. In 2020, Gebru was fired from Google as a result of a research paper she had written on the dangers of large language models, the underlying technology behind what would later form platforms like ChatGPT (launched in 2022), and other similar systems. After she was fired, Gebru received the backing of other company members and letters from Congress. She regrouped and launched the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), which is continuing the research that was frowned upon. Gebru’s contributions to her field landed her among AFROTECH™’s 2025 Legacy Leaders in the Future Maker category. Our Legacy Leaders have already set the standard for impact, vision, and excellence for the Future 50. Submit to be considered ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e8M5JaP6 #AFROTECH
Organizational Psychologist | Helping Mission-Driven Teams Navigate Change, Realign Culture & Lead with Clarity
4dI was just talking about Timnit in a class presentation this week and how her firing by Google in 2020 exposed the deep disconnect between tech companies’ public commitments to ethical AI and their internal practices of silencing accountability. We were reading a 2019 article where Google claimed bias mitigation was a “top priority,” and yet just a year later, they pushed out one of the leading voices doing exactly that work. It’s a reminder that ethical leadership often requires standing alone before you’re celebrated. So inspired by Dr. Gebru’s vision and resilience—DAIR is the kind of institution we need to truly imagine equitable futures in AI.