Renee Cummings

Renee Cummings is the Professor of Practice in Data Science at the University of Virginia and founder and CEO of Urban AI. An expert across several AI disciplines, she is a thought leader on AI governance, AI policy development and public sector AI. Renee is also at the forefront of equality, diversity and inclusion in AI and is an advocate for safe, ethical, and responsible AI. Representing the next generation of AI pioneers, Renee is highly sought after for speaking presentations, tackling topics such as the ethical risks of AI and covering frameworks for responsible AI.

Highly educated, Renee holds multiple degrees, including an MS in Rehabilitation Science, Substance Abuse Counselling from Hunter College, a master’s certificate in Terrorism Studies and an MA in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. She also served as a Community Scholar in Artificial Intelligence and Criminal Justice at Columbia University. In 2007, Renee founded Criminal Justice Intelligence Inc, providing guidance on criminal psychology, crisis management, police media relations and violence prevention. In 2013 she joined Inter-American Development Bank as a Communication Consultant, working on strategic communications and C-suite media counsel.

After five years at the International Trade and Development Bank, she became an Emerging Technologist Examination Developer at CertNexus and the East Coast Regional Leader of Women in AI Ethics. She also joined the University of Virginia, becoming the first Data Activist in Residence at the School of Data Scientists. One of the leading AI, data and tech ethicists, Renee is involved with many notable institutions in various capacities, including co-director of the Public Interest Technology Network, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Inaugural Senior Fellow, AI Data and Public Policy at All Tech Is Human. She is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance and an Advisory Council member for the AI & Equality Initiative at Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.

At the forefront of reimaging the relationship between data and society, Renee is also redefining the data power structure using AI and VR. In recognition of her pioneering work, she won the 2023 VentureBeat AI Innovator Award. An authority on ethical and responsible AI, Renee sits on the Editorial Board of the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Journal. With such distinguished expertise, she regularly speaks at prominent events, exploring the ethical implications of data on society, AI due process, trauma-informed AI, and surveillance technology. Working at the intersection of technology, power and society, Renee is a preeminent speaker on ethical AI.