Unmasking AI

My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines

By: Joy Buolamwini

Narrated by: Joy Buolamwini

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “The conscience of the AI revolution” (Fortune) explains how we’ve arrived at an era of AI harms and oppression, and what we can do to avoid its pitfalls.

“Dr. Joy Buolamwini has been an essential figure in bringing irresponsible, profit-hungry tech giants to their knees. If you’re going to read only one book about AI, this should be it.”—Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation

A LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Shortlisted for the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Award

To most of us, it seems like recent developments in artificial intelligence emerged out of nowhere to pose unprecedented threats to humankind. But to Dr. Joy Buolamwini, who has been at the forefront of AI research, this moment has been a long time in the making.

After tinkering with robotics as a high school student in Memphis and then developing mobile apps in Zambia as a Fulbright fellow, Buolamwini followed her lifelong passion for computer science, engineering, and art to MIT in 2015. As a graduate student at the “Future Factory,” she did groundbreaking research that exposed widespread racial and gender bias in AI services from tech giants across the world.

Unmasking AI goes beyond the headlines about existential risks produced by Big Tech. It is the remarkable story of how Buolamwini uncovered what she calls “the coded gaze”—the evidence of encoded discrimination and exclusion in tech products—and how she galvanized the movement to prevent AI harms by founding the Algorithmic Justice League. Applying an intersectional lens to both the tech industry and the research sector, she shows how racism, sexism, colorism, and ableism can overlap and render broad swaths of humanity “excoded” and therefore vulnerable in a world rapidly adopting AI tools. Computers, she reminds us, are reflections of both the aspirations and the limitations of the people who create them.

Encouraging experts and non-experts alike to join this fight, Buolamwini writes, “The rising frontier for civil rights will require algorithmic justice. AI should be for the people and by the people, not just the privileged few.”

©2023 Joy Buolamwini (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This revelatory book exposes the myriad, deeply ingrained biases encoded into facial recognition and other ‘trusted’ AI systems, pushing us to confront our blind trust in the machines that are taking over our lives. In describing how she conquered her own demons along her path towards justice for all, Dr. Joy Buolamwini offers a deeply felt, stirring call to action for ethical AI—a must-read for those who want a world in which technology serves humanity.”—Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner, CEO and president of Rappler

“In a world plagued by AI harms and threats to our civil rights, Dr. Joy Buolamwini has been an essential figure in bringing irresponsible, profit-hungry tech giants to their knees. Unmasking AI is an inspiring story about her journey from precocious student to groundbreaking pioneer in a field where women like herself are often rendered invisible. If you’re going to read only one book about AI, this should be it.”—Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation

“Joy Buolamwini is a unique and powerful intellectual force, and this book explains why. We are honored to follow her on each step of her journey from an earnest and diligent grad student to an outspoken and celebrated role model for algorithmic justice, rooting for her and likewise for our combined future.”—Cathy O’Neil, author of Weapons of Math Destruction

In-depth Clarity and Insights

In-depth Insights that anyone can comprehend. Passion, commitment, and care are clearly evident. Humanity, compassion, empathy and personal frailties buttress impeccable technical knowledge and experience. Inspirational and guidance for all. Sankofa 🖤

Eye Opening report

The mix of personal story with academic goals, artistic approaches, technology details and activism woke me up!

What a beautiful storyteller!

I first picked up this book thinking I would learn something about the current state of AI. But Dr Joy delivered beyond that. To go through all this challenging stuff while working on PhD and bro able to tell this story is next level strength! 🙌🏽

This book helped me push forward each day

I truly enjoyed reading Dr. Buolamwini’s journey. As a Black female scientist, I am confronted each day with so many obstacles. Listening to how, despite adversity, Dr. Joy continued on and found allyship along the way. It keeps me hopeful.

This book is a MUST read!

Dr. Joy Buolamwini shares a story of courage, resilience to fight for the preservation of our humanity in the AI era. It is personal, retable, accessible and incredibly brilliant.

An exquisite and important book read by the author herself!

Anyone working with or even thinking about technology should read this book - gratitude to Dr. Buolamwini for her dedication to educating us on what out means to take a human-centered approach to technology.

An essential read for today’s world

I recently finished listeining to Dr. Joy Buolamwini ‘s audiobook “Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines” and want to recommend it to anyone interested in our place as citizens in the age of AI. It’s an essential read, where Dr Joy manages to include and facilitate access to complex conversations about how algorithms and our data impact us today.

This is definitely a book that I will be gifting a lot in 2024, specially to more women in tech as I found it to be one of the most inspiring pieces I’ve read so far regarding career growth and understanding and embracing your unique voice when identifying something that needs to be re-thought/challenged/questioned.

Must-read for all working in AI & Tech

Joy walks us through a thoughtful exploration of a subset of the many places where we need to drive change and progress within AI and tech, more generally. Her personal journey is inspiring and she thoughtfully walks us through a problem space via her experiences. She makes the technology accessible to all as she shares her important perspective.

An eye-opening call to action

Unmasking AI illuminates the harms of AI designed without inclusivity. While shedding light on real examples of these harms, Dr. Joy also manages to inspire hope for the future of AI.

Her book is filled with stories of her work and the work of others--including everyday people and communities--pushing for personal protections and AI accountability. AI is not inclusive by default; this book is your eye-opener and call to action to join the push for equitable, human-centered AI.

Into AI? This book is a must

This book is not your average AI fears doomsday machine will control us story. The harms of AI and its predecessors are consequential today. I will buy the paper book as well. Please listen, read and share with your tech and policy friends.