According to Abeba Birhane, a senior fellow in Mozilla’s Trustworthy AI initiative, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is shaping the world in profound ways. Birhane, who is also a PhD candidate at University College Dublin, warns that AI systems can perpetuate societal biases and discrimination if not designed and deployed responsibly. She emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives in AI development to mitigate potential harms. Birhane highlights the lack of diversity in the AI field, with most researchers and developers coming from a narrow demographic. This homogeneity can lead to blind spots and biases being baked into AI systems. She advocates for greater inclusion of underrepresented groups to create more ethical and equitable AI. Birhane also cautions against the unchecked deployment of AI systems, citing examples of flawed facial recognition and risk assessment tools that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. She calls for robust governance frameworks and public oversight to ensure AI aligns with societal values and human rights.