Merve Hickok recognized as a Responsible AI Leader by Women in AI

Merve Hickok, intermittent lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Information, earned a runner-up award in the “AI for Good - Responsible AI Leader of the Year” category from the Women in AI (WAI).

WAI is a nonprofit do-tank working towards inclusive artificial intelligence that benefits global society. The organization is a community-driven initiative bringing empowerment, knowledge and active collaboration via education, research, events, and blogging. WAI was formed in Paris, France in 2016 and has since grown to more than 8,000 members in 140 countries.

Women from across the US, Mexico and Canada came together virtually for the Women in AI Awards North America. The award festivities took place on May 13, 2022 and honored female pioneers who are paving new ways in the world of artificial intelligence.

“Being named as a runner-up in the ‘Responsible AI Leader of the Year’ category is a great honor,” says Hickok. The award recognizes a woman leader who is pioneering the adoption of responsible and ethical application of AI by promoting trustworthy, accessible, inclusive, or unbiased AI systems. “Both my research and educational work on AI ethics and AI policy are built upon these goals.”

In addition to teaching at UMSI, Hickok is the Research Director of the Center for AI and Digital Policy, and the Founder of AIethicist.org. Her work intersects both AI ethics and AI policy and governance. Through her work on AI & fundamental rights,  bias, social justice, and governance, she aims to create awareness, build capacity, and advocate for ethical and responsible development & use of AI. , and shape how these issues translate into policies and practices. 

She has been recognized by several organizations - most recently as one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ 2021. She is a founding editorial board member of Springer’s AI & Ethics journal. Hickok is also a member of the Board of Directors at Northern Nevada International Center. NNIC serves as a refugee resettlement agency to help displaced persons and victims of human trafficking, as well as organizing programs for international delegations through the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies.

“WAI is a community of amazing minds and passionate innovators. Therefore the nomination and then recognition of my work by this community is a great motivation to work even harder,” says Hickok. “We can imagine and shape an inclusive and equitable future, rather than adopting a future which leaves a lot of people behind.”

 — Sarah Derouin, UMSI public relations specialist

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Learn more about lecturer Merve Hickok. 

Learn more about Women in AI.