Singing A New Song
AI4ALL CEO Tess Posner Reflects on AI4ALL and What Comes Next
Guest post by Tess Posner, AI4ALL CEO.
Five years ago, the co-founders of AI4ALL and I set out to address the worsening diversity crisis in AI — a discipline that represented the future of technology and a pivotal economic force. We recognized a technology that will shape so much of our future needs to represent those who will be impacted by it, and that diversity will unlock AI’s potential to truly address the most pressing challenges facing the world. And so we set out on a mission to nurture a new community of emerging leaders in AI — one that puts front and center those who are overlooked and underestimated.
As more than 15,000 young people have participated in AI4ALL’s AI education and mentorship programs, they have revealed to us, again and again, what happens when we invite and nurture more inclusive participation in fields like AI. Whether it’s students researching how to diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease more accurately and efficiently through AI analysis of MRI brain scans, or spending their weekends teaching workshops that expand middle school students’ access to AI, or creating a better model for processing aid requests from people affected by climate change-related disasters, the work of AI4ALL Changemakers already has a tremendous impact on our world. The interdisciplinary nature of the work is something I have always greatly valued.
Though I have spent much of my days focusing on workforce development, economic development, and inclusion in technology as critical social justice levers, in 2017, I began writing music for the first time — as both a hobby and outlet. I fell in love with the art form as a vehicle for healing and hope in a world that needs so much of both balms.
Recently, I have felt called to turn my attention more fully to what I see as a crisis of despair and hopelessness. I believe art and music can play a powerful role in healing and re-imagining our future as a society, and I want to write and perform music that plays a part in that mission.
After deep soul searching, I made one of the hardest decisions I ever have — I will step down from my CEO role at the end of the year to spend the majority of my time pursuing my music career. This decision was an incredibly difficult one that I do not take lightly.
During my nearly half-decade as CEO, I have collaborated with the most talented, passionate, and wonderful people. Our core team of staff, our Board of Directors, and our advisors are so committed to the work. We have an incredible network of university partners, industry leaders, and supporters who believe strongly in our mission. The greatest joy for me has been seeing our community of emerging leaders in AI grow. Our students truly inspire me and give me hope for a different story for technology: those that are building the technology represent the diversity of humanity and use societal impact as a lens to build better tools that serve everyone, not just a few.
One of the things I set out to do was to build a team and culture that lives the values we want to create in the world. For AI4ALL, this meant our employees’ humanity comes first — we could not do great work over the long term without valuing our staff and treating them as whole people. This philosophy proved itself as we responded to the global pandemic, pivoted our programs, and took care of our employees — everyone showed true compassion, resourcefulness, community, and an inclusive approach to the work and serving our students. I am deeply proud of our team.
The new CEO will take the helm of this organization at an incredibly exciting time. AI4ALL is stronger than it has ever been, and is poised to enter a new phase of growth and evolution. AI as a field is evolving rapidly, and the technology impacts our daily lives in growing, yet increasingly invisible, ways. At the same time, our AI4ALL alumni have been developing their leadership and technology skills in ethical and interdisciplinary ways. The next leader of this organization will step into that role as our program alumni step into their professional lives, bringing with them the perspectives they learned through our programs.
We are searching for a strong, committed leader who is passionate about AI4ALL’s mission, team, and strategic vision. If you or someone you know would be perfect for the job, I hope you’ll check out the job listing and share it widely. The person who fills this role will get to work with a smart, dedicated, caring team — it’s a deeply rewarding role leading driven people who believe in the change we’re trying to make in the world.
Though I will be stepping out of the CEO role, I will continue to consult with AI4ALL on key projects, support the organization as an advisor, and ensure a smooth handoff to the new CEO.
Building this organization has been a deeply rewarding adventure. It is time for me to use different tools for social impact, but I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to build this organization from the ground up. I can’t wait to see how it evolves.
Tess Posner,
CEO, AI4ALL
A Message From AI4ALL Board Chair and Co-Founder Fei-Fei Li
“I am really proud of the work AI4ALL has done and continues to do under Tess Posner’s leadership. She has guided the organization’s strategic direction with skill, grace, and a deep understanding of what the field needs to evolve to meet this historical moment. I appreciate that I will still have the opportunity to work with her in her new capacity at AI4ALL, but also look forward to encountering her as a musician. On behalf of the entire AI4ALL Board of Directors, I want to truly thank Tess for everything she has done to position AI4ALL for continued growth and impact, and I congratulate her on this brave and wonderful next step.”
