To give female academics and others focused on AI their well-deserved and overdue spotlight time, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews highlighting notable women who have contributed to the AI revolution. is published. As the AI boom continues, we publish these articles throughout the year, highlighting important research that often goes unrecognized. Click here for a detailed profile.
Darshun Kendrick was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2010 at the age of 27. She serves on the Small Business Development and Job Creation Committee and the Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee of the Technology and Infrastructure Committee. She also works with the National Black Caucus on the State Legislature Telecommunications, Science and Technology Committee, and in 2019 created the Georgia House of Representatives' first Bipartisan Caucus on Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Kendrick attended Oglethorpe University and received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. She is an attorney, and she founded a legal and investment advisory firm in 2017 that helps women and Black founders learn about fundraising.
In short, how did you get started in AI? What attracted you to the field?
My introduction to the field of AI came from working extensively with technology. I'm a securities attorney, so in addition to advising VC funds, I help founders across the country raise billions of dollars in private investment capital. So in my “day job,” I'm always hearing about and getting involved in the latest technology financing.
What attracted me to AI, and continues to fascinate me, is that as a policymaker, I have to balance making people's lives easier with making sure machine learning doesn't destroy democracy and humanity. Because that's very interesting. As a lawyer, I'm interested in this case because it bucks the recent trend of VCs and founders in the AI field raising less investor funding than in other technology fields. Because it looks like. I don't know why it's necessary, but it's fascinating.
What work are you most proud of in the AI field?
This last session of the Georgia State Legislature, I served on a small AI subcommittee that passed legislation regarding upcoming elections and “deepfakes” created by political campaigns to sway elections.
It's early days, but I'm proud Georgia is starting these conversations. Governments tend to be years behind in catching up with emerging technologies, so I'm glad they're starting to look at everything surrounding AI, especially generative AI.
How do we overcome the challenges of a male-dominated tech industry and, by extension, a male-dominated AI industry?
Please show up. I show up at events, conferences, discussions, and other places where male-dominated industries wouldn't expect to see me. This is the same way I was able to break into the male-dominated venture capital industry. That's what I'm talking about and delivering something of value that the industry needs.
What advice would you give to women looking to enter the AI field?
Produce. Women are used to multitasking. In my opinion, this is one of the best uses of generative and applied AI. So I know that we can create new AI products that make women's lives easier because we are the ones who need it. No need to develop a product. All you need is some foresight. Others can build it. Please show up. There are only so many spaces that we can prohibit ourselves from entering. Keep learning. Technology changes very quickly. When the opportunity arises and we enter this space, we want to be able to provide value. So listen to YouTube and sign up for tons of emails where someone is talking about this field.
What are the most pressing issues facing AI as it evolves?
scam. Every time a new technology emerges, someone is sneaky and cunning enough to figure out how to use it for evil. Especially since it is AI, it will target the most vulnerable communities, such as the elderly and immigrants. privacy. It has a long history and continues with AI. The more information you give an AI machine about itself, the better it will perform.
The downside is that it knows and stores a lot of information about you. Data breaches happen all the time. Hacking is a problem. That's why I'm worried. Adaptation to small and medium-sized enterprises. Government, legal fields, financial services. All of these industries tend to be more conservative and slow to adapt to new technology. But in this fast-paced world, slow use of AI will cause small businesses to fail. Government and corporate partners must find ways to reimagine their businesses to respond to AI-driven changes in the technology and business development landscape.
What issues should AI users be aware of?
Because of fraud, we now have to second-guess everything and be cautious about the information we share with AI platforms. Additionally, users should know that, as always, AI technology is only as knowledgeable as human input. Therefore, when considering AI in job applications, the potential for discrimination to arise from its use still exists.
What is the best way to build AI responsibly?
Devise an ethical framework that documents the “dos and don'ts” focused on privacy, data security, anti-fraud protection, and continuous reassessment of systems for discriminatory issues. Write down this ethical framework, share it with your team, and stick to it.
How can investors more effectively promote responsible AI?
[See above] And please check in responsibly.In particular, companies that claim to be focusing on ESG [environmental, social, and governance] Hold investors accountable by asking the right questions, requiring a written ethics plan, and setting metrics to truly be proud of your ESG investing.
What all of us (government, private sector, individuals) have to do is figure out where the balance is between innovation, which I love as an American trademark, and rights like the right to privacy, the right to liberty, the right to Find out what's there pretty quickly. We adhere to due process and non-discrimination. The sooner we understand and act on that balance, the better off we will be as a country and as a world.