GC REAIM Expert
Ariel Conn leads the IEEE-SA Research Group on Issues of Autonomy and AI for Defense Systems. She’s working with a group of experts to develop a more nuanced framework to address ethical and technical challenges of AI and autonomy in defense systems, as well as ensure human responsibility and accountability across every stage of a defense system’s lifecycle. Publications from this effort include the Ethical and technical challenges in the development, use, and governance of autonomous weapons systems.
In addition to her work on AI, Ariel is also a writer and consultant covering a variety of scientific and governance issues. She helped co-find Global Shield, a nonprofit working with governments to reduce global catastrophic risk. She was one of the “100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics” in 2023, and she has been an invited speaker to events within the UN and other international fora. Ariel has also worked with the Future of Life Institute, AAAI, MIT, ALLFED, the Idaho National Laboratory, the National Energy Technology Laboratory, Virginia Tech, and NASA. She holds a B.A. in English, a B.S. in physics, and an M.S. in geophysics.
