Kate Crawford is a globally recognized expert in artificial intelligence, with over 20 years at the forefront of technology and AI research. Her work focuses not only on technical systems like generative AI (such as ChatGPT), machine learning, and large-scale data infrastructures—but also on the social, political, and environmental contexts in which these technologies exist.
She holds positions at some of the world’s leading institutions: she is a Professor at USC Annenberg, a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research in New York, and the inaugural Visiting Chair in AI and Justice at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Kate has presented her insights at major platforms like the TIME100 Summit and is widely respected for her critical approach to how technology shapes society.
Her acclaimed book, Atlas of AI, takes readers behind the scenes of the AI industry—from lithium mines to Amazon warehouses to private space projects—revealing the global systems that power so-called “intelligent” machines. Praised by Nature and The Wall Street Journal, the book challenges the common perception of AI, showing that these systems are deeply human-made, shaped by labor, resources, and politics.
Beyond writing, Kate collaborates with artists on award-winning visual and conceptual projects. Anatomy of an AI System, made with Vladan Joler, maps the full lifecycle of a single Amazon Echo and has been exhibited at top museums like MoMA and the V&A. Another project, Calculating Empires, explores AI’s roots in 500 years of history and was honored with the European Commission’s top award for interdisciplinary work in science, art, and technology.
Kate also co-developed Excavating AI, a method of analyzing how AI systems function and classify data. Her viral project ImageNet Roulette, made with artist Trevor Paglen, exposed the biases in training data by showing users how AI labels them—winning the Ayrton Prize for its contribution to the history of science.
Throughout her career, Kate has led influential research programs in both academic and corporate settings, publishing her work in outlets ranging from Nature to The New York Times. Her voice is a vital one in global conversations about the future of AI, urging us to build technologies that are more ethical, equitable, and accountable.
Kate Crawford is a globally recognized expert in artificial intelligence, with over 20 years at the forefront of technology and AI research. Her work focuses not only on technical systems like generative AI (such as ChatGPT), machine learning, and large-scale data infrastructures—but also on the social, political, and environmental contexts in which these technologies exist.
She holds positions at some of the world’s leading institutions: she is a Professor at USC Annenberg, a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research in New York, and the inaugural Visiting Chair in AI and Justice at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Kate has presented her insights at major platforms like the TIME100 Summit and is widely respected for her critical approach to how technology shapes society.
Her acclaimed book, Atlas of AI, takes readers behind the scenes of the AI industry—from lithium mines to Amazon warehouses to private space projects—revealing the global systems that power so-called “intelligent” machines. Praised by Nature and The Wall Street Journal, the book challenges the common perception of AI, showing that these systems are deeply human-made, shaped by labor, resources, and politics.
Beyond writing, Kate collaborates with artists on award-winning visual and conceptual projects. Anatomy of an AI System, made with Vladan Joler, maps the full lifecycle of a single Amazon Echo and has been exhibited at top museums like MoMA and the V&A. Another project, Calculating Empires, explores AI’s roots in 500 years of history and was honored with the European Commission’s top award for interdisciplinary work in science, art, and technology.
Kate also co-developed Excavating AI, a method of analyzing how AI systems function and classify data. Her viral project ImageNet Roulette, made with artist Trevor Paglen, exposed the biases in training data by showing users how AI labels them—winning the Ayrton Prize for its contribution to the history of science.
Throughout her career, Kate has led influential research programs in both academic and corporate settings, publishing her work in outlets ranging from Nature to The New York Times. Her voice is a vital one in global conversations about the future of AI, urging us to build technologies that are more ethical, equitable, and accountable.
