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AI and Society Fellowship

Launched in April 2023, the Artificial Intelligence and Society Fellowship is a postdoctoral research and training program developed to address the growing need for scholars who are trained at the intersection of AI and societal impact. Offered in collaboration between Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society and The New York Academy of Sciences, the AI and Society Fellowship integrates technical AI research with perspectives from the social sciences and humanities to produce multidisciplinary scholars, thought leaders and public figures equipped to shape the future of AI innovation, research and policy in ways that advance the public good.

Fellows are mentored by faculty in ASU’s College of Global Futures and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, among other units, and engage in professional development and service-learning through NYAS’ specialized programming. They participate in internships with public, private and non-profit partners, and pursue cutting-edge research that contributes to a deeper understanding of AI’s societal implications.

Fellows also teach FIS 494 / HSD 598: AI & Society: Ethics & Impact, a course that explores how to use artificial intelligence (AI) for socially responsible innovation, with consideration toward societal implications, the needs of special populations, health-related applications, and adherence to ethical principles. With rising AI use and technical proficiency, the aim of this course it to equip students with the opportunity to further knowledge related to Responsible Innovation, Principled Innovation, and the use of AI technologies.

They split their time between ASU's historic Tempe campus, NYAS in NYC, and local partner sites.

The inaugural fellows

Akuadasuo Ezenyilimba

PhD, Arizona State University, The Polytechnic School; Human Systems Engineering

Dr. Akuadasuo Ezenyilimba holds a PhD in Human Systems Engineering PhD from Arizona State University. Her academic background consists of a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology, and a Master of Science in Human Systems Engineering. As a National Science Foundation Research Trainee, she has experience working on citizen-centered solutions for real-world problems. Currently, she is researching the relationship between human-computer interaction and traumatic brain injury (TBI), executive function, and TBI rehabilitation.

Nitin Verma

PhD, University of Texas at Austin, School of Information

Dr. Nitin Verma’s research focuses on the relationship between the human drive for creating technologies and how human technologies and societies co-shape each other. He studies the mechanisms of interpersonal trust that make large communities cohere and how technologies (esp. ICTs) such as deep learning-infused AI influence the mechanisms of trust. His doctoral research investigated the severe challenges posed by deepfake technology to public trust in the media, and to the personal credibility and safety of visual journalists.

Marjorie Xie

PhD, Columbia University Medical Center, Center for Theoretical Neuroscience

Dr. Marjorie Xie’s work combines AI, mental health, and education. Her goals are to: 1) Develop technology to enable social-emotional learning and facilitate collaborative interpersonal relationships; 2) Develop systems for effective AI governance. As an AI researcher, engineer, and social entrepreneur, she collaborates with mental health professionals, educators, business leaders, and social media experts. Previously, she interned at Basis Research Institute, building AI tools for reasoning about collaborative intelligence in animals.

Our goal is to create a powerhouse of trainees, mentors, ideas, and resources to develop the next generation of AI researchers poised to produce ethical, humanistic AI applications and promote these emerging technologies for the public interest.

David H. Guston Foundation Professor, Founding Director, and Associate Vice Provost for Discovery, Engagement and Outcomes, School for the Future of Innovation in Society

AI now permeates every facet of our society. The technology holds extraordinary promise. It is crucial that researchers have the training and capacity to bring an ethical perspective to its application, to ensure it is used for the betterment of society.

Nicholas B. Dirks President and CEO, The New York Academy of Sciences

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About The New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM-related fields. These include prestigious science awards programs. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers.

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Contact us

David H. Guston

Faculty Director

Ernesto L. Abeytia

Project Coordinator

Mailing address:

Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health

777 E. University Dr.

Tempe, AZ 85287-2404