Meet the Black Influencers Featured on the TIME100 2024 AI List

TIME has released its second annual TIME100 AI list, celebrating 100 influential figures shaping the future of artificial intelligence. 

The 2024 edition features leaders across various industries, from tech to policy to business and entertainment. 

Some of the influencers include Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Sundar Pichai of Google. Beyond the Big Tech leaders, the list comprises policymakers and advocates who are pushing for the technology to be regulated, such as Elizabeth Kelly, Director of the United States Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute; Arati Prabhakar Director, U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy and Meredith Stiehm, President, Writers Guild of America West.

The list comprises some Black influencers who have also made their mark in Artificial Intelligence.

Willonius Hatcher – Comedian and AI Storyteller

Comedian Hatcher (aka King Willonius) went viral with “BBL Drizzy,” an AI-generated song poking fun at Drake during his feud with Kendrick Lamar in the summer of 2023. He created the song with an AI tool called Udio, and the soulful track sparked remixes and creativity across platforms like TikTok. 

Hatcher believes AI tools could be a boon for Black creators and other groups of people who are unrepresented onscreen and have never had the resources to match their ambitions. He is preparing to debut a “BBL Drizzy” musical at Art Basel Miami, showcasing AI-driven visuals and music.

Tekedra Mawakana – Co-CEO, Waymo

Led by co-CEO Mawakana, Waymo’s mission is to become the world’s most trusted driver by achieving something never done before. Formerly known as the Google self-driving car project, the company is the first to expand AI-driven taxis into major metropolitan areas, starting with San Francisco and Phoenix, with plans to expand into Los Angeles this year. 

Despite challenges—including 150 crashes since 2021 and a recent software recall—the American autonomous driving technology company highlights its safety record. With over 7 million miles driven and significantly reduced injury-causing crashes, Waymo is pushing forward, confident that its innovations will make roads safer.

Chinasa T. Okolo – Fellow, Brookings Institution

As AI development surges in Silicon Valley, Chinasa T. Okolo, a Nigerian-American computer scientist and Brookings Institution fellow, is working to ensure the Global South isn’t left behind. She’s addressing the risks of biased systems and data exploitation through policy advocacy, public speaking, and research. 

Okolo has contributed to AI strategies for Nigeria and the African Union, raising awareness of potential benefits, like improved flood detection and the dangers of digital exploitation. She is optimistic about AI’s role in Africa’s development but warns against its potential to reinforce harmful neo-colonial practices.

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Becky Pringle – President of the National Education Association

Few parts of society have felt AI’s impact as directly as education. Tools like ChatGPT have helped students learn, but they have also facilitated cheating and threatened their ability to develop critical thinking techniques. Becky Pringle, the President of the National Education Association, is working to ensure AI is responsibly integrated into schools. 

She set up a task force that developed a roadmap focusing on teacher training, reducing student harm, and ensuring equitable access. Pringle believes AI should enhance—not replace—teachers, with best practices emerging from schools pioneering its use.

Marques Brownlee – YouTuber 

Tech Celebrity reviewer Marques Brownlee recently criticized new AI-powered devices like the Humane Ai Pin and Rabbit r1, describing them as poorly executed with issues like short battery life and underdeveloped features. With over 19 million subscribers, Brownlee’s reviews highlighted significant flaws, sparking online debate on whether his critiques were overly harsh. 

Brownlee stated that transparency with his audience is crucial, as many companies already know of product shortcomings. While critical of certain AI products, Brownlee acknowledges the surging role of AI in content creation, including its use for tasks like video editing and idea generation.

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Mophat Okinyi – Chairperson, Content Moderators Union

Okinyi was a former content moderator from Kenya who was instrumental in training the algorithm that powers ChatGPT by labeling toxic content for an outsourcing company, Sama. The job involved reading disturbing material, was low-paying and mentally exhausting, leading to personal hardships. 

After exposing poor working conditions, Okinyi founded the Content Moderators Union, Africa’s first union for AI data workers, representing over 400 workers. He also established Techworker Community Africa, an NGO advocating for AI workers’ rights, better wages, and mental health support.

Kauna Malgwi – Chairperson, Nigeria chapter, Content Moderators Union

Malgwi fled Northern Nigeria during Boko Haram’s insurgency, which targeted Christians like her and attacked academic institutions. After completing her education in Kenya, she began working as a content moderator for Facebook, reviewing graphic and violent material. 

Her employer, Sama, cut ties with Meta in 2023, leaving Malgwi and hundreds of colleagues without jobs or redundancy payments. Malgwi has become a staunch advocate for AI data workers’ rights despite legal battles. She currently leads Nigeria’s Content Moderators Union and continues to push for greater protections, having even testified before the European Parliament to influence global labor laws.