Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist at the MIT Media Lab and the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. She is my "Tech Hero" because she directly challenges the norms of the tech space by exposing racial and gender bias in facial recognition systems.

As a person of color, Buolamwini experienced firsthand how AI systems failed to "see" her face until she put on a white mask. This led to her groundbreaking research, "Gender Shades," which showed that AI from major companies had error rates of up to 34.7% for dark-skinned women, compared to 0.8% for light-skinned men.

Her leadership in advancing equity is not just about the math; it's about the humans affected by these systems. She provides leadership by advocating for federal regulation of facial recognition and pushing for "algorithmic accountability."

Resources: AJL | Gender Shades | Poet of Code

Michael Running Wolf is a computer scientist and educator known for his pioneering work in Indigenous language revitalization using Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR). He is Anisha's Tech Hero because he uses cutting-edge technology to preserve cultural heritage that is often overlooked by mainstream tech.

Raised in a remote village in the Cheyenne and Lakota communities, Michael saw how technology often prioritized English and other dominant languages, leaving Indigenous speakers behind. He co-founded Indigital and has worked with organizations like Buffalo Tongue to create immersive language-learning tools that allow users to interact with their ancestral languages in natural, spatial contexts.

Michael's work is a powerful example of how "Code and Power" can be reclaimed. By building "Indigenous AI" and VR systems that respect tribal sovereignty and cultural protocols, he ensures that the digital future includes the voices and wisdom of the first people of this land.

Resources: LinkedIn | Indigital | Native Stories