Women in AI welcomes Renée Cummings as Honorary Chair USA: Champion of Ethical AI for Justice and Equity

Renée Cummings stands as a pioneering voice at the critical crossroads of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and public policy. Her work is deeply rooted in a commitment to ensuring technology serves humanity equitably, addressing systemic inequalities that have long been embedded in technological development and deployment. Her background in criminology, criminal psychology, therapeutic jurisprudence, terrorism studies, crisis and risk management and advocacy reinforced her understanding of the societal impact of these tools, and advocate for AI systems that prioritize fairness, responsibility, and trust.

As a criminologist and data activist, her vision for AI is to transform criminal justice, all systems, all business models  advancing equity at the same time.  She also envisions AI being used responsibly to reduce bias in decision-making, enhance transparency, and empower all communities. It can help identify systemic inequities, provide data-driven insights for reform, and even prevent injustice when applied with ethical safeguards. However, its implementation must always center on inclusivity and be rigorously vetted to ensure that it does not perpetuate existing disparities or create new ones.

Central to Renée’s advocacy is the principle of responsible AI. She argues that organizations and governments must embed ethics from the ground up by establishing clear principles of fairness, accountability, transparency, explainability, and privacy. These values should permeate every stage of AI’s lifecycle-from design to deployment-supported by diverse stakeholder engagement, governance structures, ethical audits, and continuous education. This ecosystem fosters trustworthy AI that serves the public interest.

Storytelling plays a vital role in Renée’s work, bridging the gap between complex AI concepts and real-world human experiences. Through narrative, she connects policymakers and communities, making AI ethics accessible and inspiring collective action toward a just and equitable future. By centering human stories, she ensures that the societal implications of AI remain at the forefront of conversations.

Despite challenges in navigating interdisciplinary fields and confronting entrenched power structures resistant to change, Renée’s resolve is fueled by her conviction in justice and the voices of communities seeking equity and inclusion. Her work is a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of amplifying underrepresented perspectives.

For women and underrepresented groups aspiring to impact AI, Renée advice is simple but vital: ‘Don’t underestimate the power of your unique perspective. Your lived experiences, values, and insights are precisely what the field needs to grow and thrive. Seek out allies and mentors, build a strong support network, and never be afraid to challenge the status quo. Remember, change often starts with those who dare to stand apart and make their voices heard.’

Renée also suggests that building globally  inclusive AI ecosystems requires prioritizing justice, diversity, and equity at every level-from hiring practices to decision-making representation and data selection. Robust policies must combat bias, protect marginalized groups, and ensure universal access to technology. International collaboration is essential to prevent cultural and regional exclusion from the AI revolution. Inclusivity is not only a moral imperative but also the foundation for innovation and resilience in technology.

She also suggested when redesigning AI from scratch, core principles of care, protection, mindfulness, empathy, respect, human dignity, and human-centered design should be embedded. Community engagement, ethical oversight, and cultural sensitivity would guide its deployment, and its purpose would always be grounded in benefiting humanity. This redesigned AI would prioritize justice and equity, not merely as outcomes but as guiding values, preventing the transmission of intergenerational trauma and ensuring it is never used to harm, terrorize, or deny opportunities. It would be a force for empowerment, fairness, and access, capable of creating the world we need and have longed for, with an imagination that inspires meaningful and transformative progress.

As Honorary Chair for the USA,  Renée views this role as both recognition and a testament to the power of the work and affirms that there is so much more work that needs to be done. It provides a platform to amplify critical conversations about ethics, safety, governance, and the societal impact of AI, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to shaping the global conversation. It also reflects her lifelong commitment to justice-oriented and trauma-informed work and the values she holds dear as well as to her lifelong commitment to stretching the imagination.

Renée Cummings’s work exemplifies how ethical AI can be a force for justice, equity, and societal good, reshaping technology to serve all people fairly and responsibly.

Join us in the Summit & Awards Ceremony on June 6, 2025.

Edited by Suparna Pawar & Arathi Ajith