Dr. Abeba Birhane is an Ethiopian-born cognitive scientist recognized as a leading authority in the field of AI ethics and accountability. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland where she founded and leads the AI Accountability Lab housed at the School of Computer Science and Statistics. Additionally she holds a position as Senior Advisor in AI Accountability at the Mozilla Foundation and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and serves as the founder and director of the AI Accountability Lab (AIAL) at the institution. Birhane received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from The Open University followed by a Master of Science in Cognitive Science and her Ph.D. from University College Dublin in 2021.
Dr. Birhane's groundbreaking research with Vinay Prabhu uncovered systemic issues within large-scale image datasets including ImageNet and 80 Million Tiny Images revealing pervasive racist and misogynistic labels that have significantly shaped the development of artificial intelligence systems. Her work has fundamentally transformed the discourse around algorithmic bias and dataset accountability catalyzing critical examinations of training data used across the AI industry. This research earned her recognition as a top innovator in computer vision from VentureBeat and was instrumental in her selection as one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2023. Her methodological approach to auditing AI systems has established new standards for evaluating the ethical implications of machine learning models particularly regarding racial and gender biases.
Beyond her technical contributions Dr. Birhane serves on the United Nations Secretary-General's AI Advisory Body where she helps shape global frameworks for responsible AI development. Her work bridges critical race studies with artificial intelligence through which she challenges and dismantles societal inequalities embedded in technology systems. As a prominent voice in AI ethics she regularly contributes to Wired UK and other major publications advancing public understanding of algorithmic accountability. Dr. Birhane continues to pioneer research that paves the way for just and equitable AI systems ensuring technology serves all members of society rather than perpetuating existing power imbalances and historical injustices.
