135 - The Bias Before the Algorithm ft. Deshni Govender

DESHNI GOVENDER, AI ECOSYSTEM BUILDER, LAWYER AND GENDER JUSTICE AVENGER

Today on the podcast, Deshni Govender – is an AI ecosystem builder, lawyer and gender justice avenger; with public and private sector experience. Her goal is to advance AI made in Africa, by Africans and her work ranges from open-source AI licensing to gender-equal AI bootcamps. She has co-developed Africa’s first AI Maturity Assessment Framework, helped birth a Language AI Hub for African NLP, and co-created an AI Policy Playbook for global south policymakers. Deshni is advisory board member of the South African AI Association; co-founder of the GIZ Diverse Women in Tech network, co-developed the national AI Strategy recommendations for South Africa and was featured on the list of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for 2022.