Madeleine Elish, a Data & Society affiliate, previously co-founded and led the organization’s AI on the Ground program, researching how organizations grapple with the challenges and opportunities of AI — from changing work practices and responsibilities to new ethics practices and forms of AI governance. She is currently head of responsible AI for Google Cloud, where she oversees strategy and operations for AI product governance and responsible AI initiatives, including integrating emerging best practices and advising internal teams and external customers on responsible innovation.

As a researcher and anthropologist, Elish has worked to reframe debates about the ethical design, use, and governance of AI systems. She has conducted field work across varied industries and communities, ranging from the Air Force, the driverless car industry, and commercial aviation to precision agriculture and emergency healthcare. Her research has been published and cited in scholarly journals as well as publications including The New York Times, Slate, The Guardian, Vice, and USA Today. She holds a PhD in anthropology from Columbia University and an S.M. in comparative media studies from MIT.