“The challenge I am working to address revolves around algorithmic justice and algorithmic racism. In the context of the rapidly advancing fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, these challenges have become increasingly significant.”

Nina da Hora is a computer scientist and activist who works to further equity, justice, and inclusivity in technology and artificial intelligence. In her work bridging the gap between academia, government, and civil society in artificial intelligence and computing, she defines her roles as a “hackerantiracista” and “cyberqueer” because they reflect her commitment to combating racism and LGBTQ+ discrimination in the digital world. She has worked as a consultant for the United Nations, the Superior Electoral Court, and the Presidency of the Brazilian Government and also as a columnist on artificial intelligence and ethics for publications including MIT Technology Review Brazil and UOL Tilt. Her articles have also appeared in Canal Futura, Gizmodo, and other outlets. 

Nina is the executive director and founder of Instituto da Hora, a nonprofit organization focused on creating a more equitable future for technology by recognizing how internalized biases lead to algorithmic biases that can exclude marginalized communities. From 2016 to 2020, she served as the president of the university chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the 100 most influential women researchers in the field of ethics in AI, and in 2021, she was included in Forbes Brazil’s “Under 30” list.

In her work to address issues such as bias in training data, transparency, accountability, and fairness in algorithmic outcomes, Nina emphasizes research and advocacy for stronger ethical guidelines, regulations, and best practices. By bringing in more Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ leaders into the field of technology, she believes we can create systems that are both technologically advanced and socially responsible.