Meet the Two Nigerian Women on TIME’s 100 Most Influential in AI

Two Nigerians in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Chinasa T. Okolo and Kauna Malgwi, have earned spots on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI list.

The recognition highlights their unique contributions to the field of artificial intelligence, particularly in advocating for ethical practices, policy reforms, and protecting marginalised communities from the unintended consequences of AI development.

TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI list honors leaders across various sectors whose work in artificial intelligence has a significant global impact. These individuals include scientists, policymakers, and advocates shaping the future of AI, ensuring that it advances responsibly and inclusively.

Okolo and Malgwi were named alongside other industry leaders like Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, creators of the popular generative chatbot, ChatGPT.

Why Chinasa T. Okolo Made TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI list

Chinasa T. Okolo, a Nigerian-American computer scientist and Brookings Institution fellow, focuses on ensuring that AI development does not leave behind communities in the Global South.

Okolo’s work centers on preventing the exploitation of these communities, who are often at risk of being used as data sources for AI without reaping the benefits of the technology.

With a strong educational background in computer science, including a Master’s degree from Cornell University, Okolo’s research has been published in several publications.

In July last year, she became the first Nigerian, and the sixth Black student, to defend a PhD in Computer Science at the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science at Cornell University.

Aside from her work at the Brookings Institution, Okolo plays a role in Nigeria’s national AI strategy as a member of the Nigerian Federal Government’s National AI Strategy Drafting Committee, a position she has held since March this year. Before then, she served on the Evaluation Committee of the Nigeria AI Research Grant Scheme.

“I’m optimistic that AI could help fuel socioeconomic development that has been much needed in Africa for the last half-century,” Okolo told TIME.

“But I’m also concerned that this competition could limit the autonomy of African countries and perpetuate neo-colonial practices that have negatively impacted their economies,” she added.

Also Read: Who is Dimie Ogoina – the physician named among Most Influential People of 2023?

Why Kauna Malgwi Made TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI list

Kauna Malgwi’s journey from a university student in northern Nigeria to a leading voice in the fight for AI workers’ rights, particularly in content moderation, was shaped by her personal experience and determination to see relevant laws passed and implemented to protect those exposed to violent content while working for tech companies.

After a near-death experience due to Boko Haram insurgency in 2012 forced her family to flee northern Nigeria, Malgwi completed her education in Kenya, where she landed a job with Sama, a contractor for Facebook, as a content moderator. She claims that the job description did not properly disclose what the role entailed before she was onboarded.

“Funnily enough, even though I have a background in psychology – I was studying it – I didn’t even know I was experiencing mental health challenges,” she said in an interview.

According to her, the role exposed her to disturbing content, including videos of violence and abuse, which she was tasked with reviewing and removing from the platform.

Malgwi’s experience as a content moderator has since fueled her advocacy for the rights of invisible data workers who play a crucial role in training AI systems but often face low pay and poor working conditions.

She now leads the Nigeria chapter of the Content Moderators Union, where she works to ensure that young people are aware of their rights when working for tech companies. Her efforts have had a ripple effect, with tech giants like Meta now facing increased scrutiny over their treatment of workers.

“The fear that you can just be laid off because you are raising concerns is beginning to diminish, because people are starting to realize they have rights as workers,” Malgwi told TIME.

Her work has also reached beyond Africa—she testified at the European Parliament, sharing her story and influencing the passage of the Platform Work Directive, which aims to protect platform workers across the EU.