Several Muslim techies and thinkers have made it to Time magazine’s inaugural ‘TIME100 AI List’, highlighting the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence (AI).
Lila Ibrahim, COO Google DeepMind, Mustafa Suleyman, CEO and Co-Founder Inflection AI, Omar Al Olama, the world’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence, United Arab Emirates, and Rumman Chowdhury, CEO and Co-Founder, Humane Intelligence, have been included by Time Magazine in its 2023 list of 100 Most Influential People in AI released Thursday, September 07, 2023.
Lila Ibrahim: COO Google DeepMind
Lila Ibrahim, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Google DeepMind, is among the notable figures honored in the TIME100 AI List. With more than two decades of experience in the tech industry, Ibrahim’s journey to her current role at DeepMind was marked by extensive interviews and contemplation. DeepMind, which merged with Google Brain in 2023, is described as a unique blend of a startup, an academic lab, and a global tech giant. Ibrahim, 53, feels that her diverse experience at companies like Intel, VC firm Kleiner Perkins, and ed-tech startup Coursera has prepared her well for her responsibilities at DeepMind. She emphasizes the importance of developing safe AI systems, a subject she believes has gained significant attention since the release of ChatGPT.
Ibrahim, along with DeepMind’s founders Demis Hassabis and Shane Legg, recently signed a statement acknowledging the critical nature of AI risks, comparing them to those of pandemics and nuclear war. In her role as the leader of DeepMind’s responsibility and governance efforts, Ibrahim is tasked with mitigating these risks. She emphasizes that her decision to join DeepMind was driven by the belief that the opportunities created by AI outweigh its risks, even as she remains mindful of the potential consequences for her own family.
Mustafa Suleyman: CEO and Co-Founder Inflection AI
Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO, and Co-Founder of Inflection AI, is another prominent figure on the TIME100 AI List. His journey in the AI industry began with a friendship formed during his teenage years with Demis Hassabis, who later co-founded DeepMind. Suleyman and Hassabis shared a passion for long-term thinking and a fascination with the future. Together with Shane Legg, they co-founded DeepMind, which gained widespread recognition for creating AlphaGo, an AI system that defeated human champions in the complex board game Go.
After DeepMind’s acquisition by Google in 2014, Suleyman continued to make significant contributions to the AI field. He joined Google and later ventured into the startup world by co-founding Inflection, an AI chatbot startup, alongside Reid Hoffman of Greylock Partners. Suleyman is also known for his thought leadership in AI, as evidenced by his recent book, “The Coming Wave,” which discusses the profound transformation AI will bring to various industries and nations.
Suleyman emphasizes the need for responsible AI development and advocates for “artificial capable intelligence” (ACI), which he believes will serve as personal assistants, medical advisers, and chiefs of staff, ultimately benefiting society by enhancing wealth, health, and productivity. He acknowledges past controversies in his career but expresses a commitment to creating technology that is compassionate and aligned with ethical values.
Omar Al Olama: Minister of Artificial Intelligence, United Arab Emirates
Omar Al Olama, the world’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence, represents the United Arab Emirates on the TIME100 AI List. Appointed to this groundbreaking role in 2017, Al Olama’s responsibilities include overseeing AI applications across the government and fostering coordination among different government bodies. He emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to AI governance and international collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by AI.
Al Olama notes that while countries like the U.S., the European Union, and China have not yet adopted a similar approach, avoiding silos and fostering inclusive, multilateral discussions on AI regulation is essential. He underscores the need for cooperation in addressing the profound implications of AI technology.
Rumman Chowdhury: CEO and Co-Founder, Humane Intelligence
Rumman Chowdhury, the CEO, and Co-Founder of Humane Intelligence, also earns a place on the TIME100 AI List. Chowdhury is known for her pioneering work in AI ethics, particularly in the area of red teaming AI systems. She organized a high-po profile event where hackers attempted to identify vulnerabilities in AI chatbots from major companies, such as OpenAI and Google. This approach, inspired by hacker culture, aims to proactively discover and address potential issues in AI systems before they become serious problems.
Chowdhury’s expertise extends to her previous role as the head of Twitter’s machine-learning ethics team, where her research uncovered biases in the platform’s AI algorithms. She is committed to addressing the gendered and ethical aspects of AI systems. Her work has received support from the Biden Administration, which recognizes the importance of independent exercises like the Las Vegas event in ensuring AI systems’ safety and fairness.
The 2023 TIME100 AI issue features a worldwide cover with illustrations by Neil Jamieson for TIME, featuring 28 list-makers including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario and Daniela Amodei of Anthropic, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and more from the new list.
“TIME’s mission is to highlight the people and ideas that are making the world a better, more equitable place,” said Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley.
“At this critical moment of exceptional growth and advancement in AI, we are proud to reveal the first-ever TIME100 AI list to recognise the individuals leading AI innovation, including those advancing major conversations to promote equity in AI,” she added.
The list features 43 CEOs, founders and co-founders – Elon Musk of xAI, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Andrew Hopkins of Exscientia, Nancy Xu of Moonhub, Kate Kallot of Amini, Pelonomi Moiloa of Lelapa AI, Jack Clark of Anthropic, Raquel Urtasan of Waabi, Aidan Gomez of Cohere and more.
Scientists, professors, researchers and activists recognised on the list include computer scientist and artist Joy Buolamwini; researcher Inioluwa Deborah Raji, researcher Timnit Gebru and more.
