Timnit Gebru Launches New AI Research Institute: DAIR

Timnit Gebru Launches Independent AI Research Institute

Approximately one year following her departure from Google, where she led efforts in AI ethics, Timnit Gebru has established a new research institute. This institute, named DAIR, will concentrate on areas she felt were insufficiently prioritized during her time at the tech giant.

The Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute is positioned as “an independent institute, deeply connected to the community, created to challenge the widespread influence of Big Tech on AI research, development, and implementation,” as stated in its official press release.

A Focus on Diversity and Independence

DAIR is designed from the ground up to prioritize diverse viewpoints and critically examine the methodologies employed by major corporations such as Google, Amazon, and Meta. The institute will operate with independent funding.

Researchers will focus on publishing academic papers, free from the pressures of traditional academic settings or the controlling influence of large corporations. This structure aims to foster unbiased and impactful research.

“I’ve long felt constrained by existing incentive structures, finding none suitable for the type of work I am passionate about,” Gebru explained to The Washington Post.

Funding and Initial Research

To date, DAIR has secured $3.7 million in funding from organizations including the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Kapor Center, and the Open Society Foundation. This funding will support the institute’s operations and ensure competitive compensation for its researchers.

This financial backing aims to establish DAIR as a viable alternative career path to working within the well-funded corporate landscape of AI research.

Further details regarding DAIR’s methodologies and future research directions were provided by Gebru, who highlighted the institute’s work on spatial apartheid and its overarching research philosophy.

Advisory and Research Team

Safiya Noble, renowned author of “Algorithms of Oppression” and a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, will serve on DAIR’s advisory committee. She recently participated in a TC Sessions: Justice panel, emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing technologies even as they become commonplace.

Raesetje Sefala has been appointed as DAIR’s inaugural research fellow. Her recent work utilizes satellite imagery to analyze geographical and economic segregation in South Africa.

Reclaiming AI's Focus

“AI has become overly idealized, perceived as a superhuman force beyond our control,” Gebru stated in the announcement. “By grounding AI research, development, and deployment within communities and among people from the outset, we can proactively address potential harms and build a future that prioritizes equity and humanity.”