Dr. Timnit Gebru

Dr. Timnit Gebru, an Eritrean Ethiopian-born computer scientist, is a trailblazer in AI, algorithmic bias, and data mining. She co-founded Black in AI and established the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR). Her departure from Google in December 2020, where she co-led the Ethical AI team, sparked significant controversy. Gebru's paper on the risks of large language models led to her termination after she refused Google's demands to retract or modify it. Recognized globally, she was named one of Fortune's 50 Greatest Leaders, one of Nature's top ten people in science for 2021, and one of Time's most influential people in 2022. Raised in Addis Ababa, Gebru's journey to the U.S. during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War shaped her focus on ethics in technology. A Stanford alumna, she earned her BS, MS, and PhD in electrical engineering and computer vision. Her career includes impactful roles at Apple, Stanford, Microsoft, and Google. Gebru’s advocacy extends to addressing systemic racism and promoting diversity in tech.