In 2020, Dr. Timnit Gebru was abruptly ousted from Google after raising concerns about ethical risks in artificial intelligence (AI).
Today, in 2025, her work remains a cornerstone of the movement to address bias, fairness, and accountability in AI, shaping regulatory discussions and industry practices worldwide.
Gebru, a renowned computer scientist and advocate for ethical AI, was the co-lead of Google’s Ethical AI team before her departure. She was terminated after co-authoring a paper highlighting the dangers of large language models, including their environmental impact, bias reinforcement, and potential for misinformation. Google’s handling of her dismissal drew widespread criticism, with thousands of AI researchers and employees condemning the decision as an act of retaliation.
Since then, Gebru has continued to champion responsible AI development. She founded the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), an independent organization dedicated to ethical AI research that prioritizes marginalized communities.
DAIR has published critical studies on algorithmic harm, facial recognition biases, and the lack of diversity in AI research, contributing to policy discussions on AI regulation.
In recent years, lawmakers and regulators have intensified scrutiny on AI ethics, with Gebru’s advocacy playing a crucial role. The European Union’s AI Act, as well as proposed U.S. regulations, have drawn from her research on mitigating bias and increasing transparency in machine learning systems.
Corporate accountability in AI development is now a major policy concern, spurred in part by Gebru’s revelations about internal resistance to ethical oversight at tech giants.
Beyond policy, Gebru’s impact extends to increasing diversity in the AI field. She co-founded Black in AI, an organization supporting Black professionals in artificial intelligence through mentorship, research opportunities, and advocacy.
Her efforts have helped elevate discussions on systemic biases within AI and the exclusion of underrepresented groups from tech leadership.
Despite facing corporate pushback, Gebru remains a leading voice in the fight for ethical AI. Her work continues to influence academic research, government policy, and industry practices, ensuring that artificial intelligence serves all communities fairly and responsibly.
