Meet 10 inspiring women shaping AI in the USA—leading innovation, ethics, and inclusion to build a more equitable tech future in 2025.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an increasingly dominant force shaping industries across the globe, diversity and representation in the AI sector are more critical than ever. In 2025, women are at the forefront of driving innovation, ensuring the responsible use of AI technologies, and challenging long-standing biases embedded in systems and data.
GlobalBiz Outlook highlights ten remarkable women redefining the AI landscape in the United States. These leaders exemplify excellence across research, business, ethics, user experience, and policy—paving the way for a more inclusive AI-driven future.
1. Cynthia Breazeal — Professor, MIT Media Lab & Dean for Digital Learning at MIT
At the top of our 2025 list is Cynthia Breazeal, a trailblazer in social robotics and human-robot interaction. At MIT Media Lab, she leads research in developing emotionally responsive robots and promotes digital learning as MIT’s Dean for Digital Learning.
As co-founder of Jibo and author of the influential book Designing Sociable Robots, Breazeal has pioneered how we interact with AI in everyday environments. Her mission to make technology emotionally intelligent continues to transform how we integrate AI into learning, caregiving, and personal experiences.
2. Dr Fei-Fei Li — Professor & Co-Director, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI)
Globally recognized for her contributions to computer vision, Dr Fei-Fei Li continues to lead at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI). Her work in 2025 focuses on advancing responsible AI that serves human needs, with a particular emphasis on education, healthcare, and public policy.
Her role as a bridge between academia, government, and industry ensures that emerging AI technologies reflect ethical standards and prioritize societal well-being. As co-creator of ImageNet, Li’s work laid the groundwork for modern computer vision—and her influence continues to grow.
3. Cathy Pearl — UX Lead, Gemini at Google
Cathy Pearl continues to shape the future of conversational AI as UX Lead for Google’s Gemini, a leading large language model platform. With experience spanning decades in conversational design, Pearl ensures that AI interactions are intuitive, human-centered, and accessible.
Previously working on Google Assistant and leading design teams at Nuance, Pearl’s expertise lies in bridging the gap between users and AI systems. In 2025, her work remains essential in making generative AI approachable and usable across diverse populations.
4. Timnit Gebru — Founder & Executive Director, The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR)
Timnit Gebru has firmly established herself as one of the leading figures in AI ethics and diversity. As Founder and Executive Director of The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), she leads independent research focused on the societal impacts of AI, especially on marginalized communities.
Gebru’s outspoken advocacy and fearless critique of corporate AI practices continue to influence industry standards in 2025. Through DAIR and Black in AI, she is creating a more inclusive research ecosystem and shaping the future of equitable AI development.
5. Dr Rana el Kaliouby — Co-founder, Affectiva
Dr Rana el Kaliouby, a pioneer in emotional AI, remains a key thought leader in 2025. Her work at Affectiva and beyond has transformed how machines understand and respond to human emotions.
As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Council of Young Global Leaders and Partnership on AI, she remains actively involved in advocating for AI standards that uphold data privacy, inclusivity, and emotional intelligence. Her mission is to humanize AI—making it more empathetic, ethical, and reflective of real-world experiences.
6. Daniela Amodei — Co-founder, Anthropic
As co-founder of Anthropic, Daniela Amodei remains one of the most influential voices in the AI safety and alignment community in 2025. Her company focuses on building AI systems that are transparent, steerable, and aligned with human intent.
Amodei’s background in organizational leadership and ethical AI, including her former roles at OpenAI, makes her uniquely qualified to lead in today’s evolving landscape. She continues to prioritize research transparency, fairness, and a proactive approach to AI governance.
7.Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, now CEO of her own AI startup called Thinking Machines Lab
Mira Murati , the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI and a key figure behind groundbreaking AI models like ChatGPT and DALL·E, has embarked on a new venture as the CEO of her own AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab. Founded in February 2025, this San Francisco-based company aims to bridge the gap between advanced AI capabilities and public understanding by developing AI systems that are more customizable and accessible to a broader audience. Murati has assembled a formidable team, including former OpenAI co-founder John Schulman as Chief Scientist and Barret Zoph as CTO, along with experts from leading tech companies like Google and Meta. The startup reportedly raised a substantial seed round of up to $2 billion, reflecting strong investor confidence in its mission to foster human-AI collaboration and promote open research in the AI community.
8. Safra Catz — CEO, Oracle
Having served as CEO of Oracle for over a decade, Safra Catz continues to lead with bold, future-focused strategies in 2025. Under her leadership, Oracle has intensified its investment in AI technologies—from cloud-native platforms to predictive analytics—cementing its status as a global tech powerhouse.
Catz champions decisive leadership and encourages organizations to embrace modern technologies, including AI, as a foundation for growth. Her commitment to AI adoption is helping companies modernize operations and harness the power of data more effectively.
9. Fidelma Russo — EVP, GM of Hybrid Cloud & CTO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Fidelma Russo, a tech veteran and strategic thinker, currently serves as Chief Technology Officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). She leads the company’s Hybrid Cloud division, delivering integrated AI, cloud, and infrastructure solutions to clients worldwide.
In 2025, Russo will continue to be a key player in helping enterprises unlock the value of data through AI-driven digital transformation. Her ability to align technical innovation with business outcomes has positioned her as a pivotal voice in enterprise AI adoption.
10. Dr Joy Buolamwini — President, The Algorithmic Justice League
In 2025, Dr Joy Buolamwini remains a beacon of ethical AI advocacy. As President and Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League (AJL), she holds developers and corporations accountable by highlighting algorithmic bias and pushing for equitable AI standards.
Her groundbreaking research at MIT revealed significant racial and gender biases in facial recognition tools from major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon—findings that spurred immediate corrective action across the industry. A self-described “poet of code,” Buolamwini continues to inspire a global movement demanding fairness and transparency in machine learning systems.
Why Women in AI Matter More Than Ever
The increasing visibility of women in AI serves not just as inspiration but also as a call to action for companies, institutions, and governments. From ethics and fairness to product design and business leadership, women bring unique perspectives that are essential to building inclusive AI systems.
The USA’s Top 10 Women in AI exemplify how leadership, integrity, and innovation can—and must—go hand in hand. As AI becomes an even more integral part of our lives, the work of these trailblazers will shape the technologies of tomorrow and ensure they serve everyone, equitably.
In 2025 and beyond, it’s clear that the future of AI isn’t just intelligent—it’s inclusive.
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