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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

@chinasa.bsky.social

6K followers 44 following 490 posts

AI Researcher, Policy Strategist, & Technorealist. Founder, Technēculturǎ. Columnist, Science Magazine. Cornell Computer Science PhD. TIME100 AI. Forbes Under 30 AI. Critically examining global equity in AI. 👩🏾‍💻: www.chinasatokolo.com 📩: bit.ly/contactCTO

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · Nov 15

Hey everyone! I'm Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, a human-centered AI researcher and tech policy strategist.

I'm dedicated to improving global equity in AI and my work focuses on how to democratize AI research, innovation, and governance.

www.chinasatokolo.com

A side view of a panel with Chinasa speaking into a handheld microphone. She is gesturing and wearing a silver suit, has black curly braids. There are five people sitting on the stage and she is 2nd from the left.

Chinasa is speaking into a microphone and gesturing with her left hand. She is seated in-between two other panelists (both male-presenting). She is wearing a gray dress with a white puffy-sleeved dress shirt underneath.

Chinasa is speaking on a stage and standing behind a podium. Behind her is a screen depicting a map of India and South Asia with graphics of technical code overlaid on it. To the far right of an image is a sign language interpreter.

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 14h

"The United States, in the name of aid for a long time, has infiltrated recipient countries in various ways, imposed American values and the “democratic model” on others, and force other countries to carry out “democratic transformation”, which has greatly harmed developing countries."

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 14h

One thing that I like about the Chinese government is that they're not afraid to call out the U.S. government on its hypocrisy.

This article is a great example of that:

www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/w...

The Hypocrisy and Facts of the United States Foreign Aid

www.mfa.gov.cn

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 14h

I'm more in favor of African governments acting more urgently towards good governance and addressing fundamental development issues.

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 14h

More AI hype from an African company 🤔

"Artificial intelligence (AI) is potentially the most powerful tool for inclusive growth in Africa, but the continent...must act with urgency to overcome the risk of further inequality and the creation a digital underclass."

www.mtn.com/mtn-group-ca...

MTN Group calls for Africa to act urgently on AI to avoid a digital underclass |

Artificial intelligence (AI) is potentially the most powerful tool for inclusive growth in Africa, but the continent is in a race against time and must

www.mtn.com

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 14h

"Nigeria’s push to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) will depend less on ministerial enthusiasm and more on political will."

techcabal.com/2025/10/09/w...

Why Nigeria’s AI future depends on politics, not just policy

Nigeria’s push to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) will depend less on ministerial enthusiasm and more on political will

techcabal.com

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 23h

“The ideal scientist is a disinterested party with a neutral perspective, while the ideal advocate is a zealous champion for a client’s subjective interest…But when science and public policy meet, tension is inevitable.”

law.stanford.edu/stanford-law...

Advocating Science | Stanford Law School

My graduate school advisor, the late Stephen Schneider, liked to ask his students: “Is the scientist-advocate an oxymoron?” As he was fond of poin

law.stanford.edu

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 1d

"Over time, epistemological approaches rooted in Western traditions have come to be seen as objective and universal, rather than culturally situated or historically contingent."

aeon.co/essays/gener...

Generative AI has access to a small slice of human knowledge | Aeon Essays

Huge swathes of human knowledge are missing from the internet. By definition, generative AI is shockingly ignorant too

aeon.co

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 1d

Springer link: link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

Open-access link: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 1d

My latest book chapter, “Governance of AI-Based Algorithms,” has been published in the Handbook of Human-Centered AI!

This article examines the fundamental principles necessary for governing AI-based algorithms, highlighting numerous regulatory, technical, and oversight frameworks.

screenshot of "Governance of AI-based Algorithms" book chapter, which is in the Handbook of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 2d

Loved this article about my hometown's BBQ scene! I also have a lot of new places on my list to try out on my next trip ✍🏾

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/d...

Is Kansas City Still the Barbecue Capital of America?

www.nytimes.com

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 2d

"...despite Mr. Trump’s claim on the campaign trail that immigrants take jobs from Black people, rising joblessness among Black workers suggests that mass deportations of migrants haven’t arrested the trend."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/b...

Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

Mekka Okereke @mekka.mekka-tech.com · 2d

This.

One of the weirdest claims about tech, is that if people only studied humanities, they would be more inclusive and kind.

No.

That's not the important dimension. Studying art or philosophy or history does not magically make you an ethical person.

Hitler was a painter. Wagner was a composer.

brasidas @brasidas.bsky.social · 2d

Anyone who claims that Silicon Valley would be better with more humanities education has to grapple with the fact that Peter Thiel was a philosophy major.

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 2d

"We just don’t respect culture as being powerful."

— Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom

Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 2d

Bring back shame.

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 2d

First time seeing the word “chatfish,” but the ending of this article made an excellent point:

“That so many daters are hiding their reliance on AI suggests that deep down we all know that true intimacy demands vulnerability.”

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

‘I realised I’d been ChatGPT-ed into bed’: how ‘Chatfishing’ made finding love on dating apps even weirder

Where once people were duped by soft-focus photos and borrowed chat-up lines, now they have to watch out for computer-generated charm. But it’s one thing to use a witty phrase – another thing entirely to build a whole fake persona …

www.theguardian.com

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 2d

Another reason why my latest piece for Science is quite timely: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

zitronenjette.bsky.social @zitronenjette.bsky.social · 3d

While actively destroying public health care, Trump continues to reap its benefits.

bsky.app/profile/megt...

Meg Tirrell @megtirrell.bsky.social · 4d

President Trump got an updated Covid vaccine & flu shot at Walter Reed today www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/p...

Trump received Covid vaccine and flu shot during second physical of the year | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump received a Covid vaccine and flu shot during his visit to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, his physician said in a memo released by the White House.

www.cnn.com

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 4d

Finally spotted the “AI friend” advertisement in the NYC subway during my commute earlier this week.

The added commentary is truly the best!

An advertisement for a company promoting an “AI friend” it reads:

“Friend [frend] noun
Someone who listens, responds, and supports you.
friend.com”

Someone has written “AI isn’t your friend, it is surveillance” on the ad.

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 5d

I especially look forward to seeing applications from stakeholders within academia and across the Global Majority.

Due to my involvement with the selection process, I am unable to respond to any questions or requests for application reviews.

Please refer to the FAQs:
www.un.org/independent-...

FAQ | Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

www.un.org

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 5d

The UN has launched an open call for candidates to serve on the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI!

It's an ideal opportunity to contribute towards an open, safe, and inclusive digital future.

Deadline: Friday, October 31st, 2025

Apply: un.org/ai-panel

Home | Independent International Scientific Panel on AI

un.org

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 6d

My latest Brookings commentary (co-authored with Michelle Du) examines the landscape of digital platform work, providing recommendations for governments, tech companies, and outsourcing firms to increase accountability and reshape labor practices.

www.brookings.edu/articles/rei...

Reimagining the future of data and AI labor in the Global South | Brookings

Michelle Du and Chinasa Okolo discuss the content moderation and data labeling behind social media and AI platforms.

www.brookings.edu

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Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.bsky.social · 8d

Applications for JamCoders, a 1 month free algorithms & programming camp for Jamaican high schoolers, are now open.

Head over to jamcoders.org.jm#apply. No programming experience required for students.

We're looking for students & teaching assistants.

Deadline January 31.

JamCoders

jamcoders.org.jm

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Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo @chinasa.bsky.social · 7d

Pretty sure I saw National Guard troops in the NYC subway today.

Still not used to seeing them around D.C. 😬

Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 9d

If you have a better idea, you can just execute it.

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Reposted by Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo

Justin Zimmerman @jztidecat.bsky.social · 11d

My favorite armchair comment is Americans don‘t understand authoritarianism, because so many of you don’t count Black people as Americans. Learn the history or shut up.

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