PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Amanda Ballantyne

Amanda Ballantyne is a public voice on AI policy, with a focus on workers’ role in technology design and governance. She earned a government degree from Smith College in 2002, joined the Main Street Alliance in 2013, and later served as founding executive director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute. She joined the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee in April 2022 and coauthored a 2024 essay calling for union perspectives in technology research. As of October 2026, she is a senior fellow for Workers and Tech at New America and a visiting scholar at MIT. Her October 2026 essay argues that workers and communities need formal standing in decisions that shape AI.

Timeline

  1. 2002

    Government degree at Smith

    She earns a bachelor’s degree in government from Smith College in 2002.

  2. 2013

    Main Street Alliance director

    She joins the Main Street Alliance as its director in 2013, bringing more than a decade of organizing, policy, and legal experience.

  3. April 2022

    Joining the AI advisory committee

    In April 2022, she joins the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), which advises the President on AI issues.

  4. 2024

    Centering workers in technology research

    She coauthors the 2024 Issues essay “A Vision for Centering Workers in Technology Development,” arguing that union perspectives in research and development help build effective, equitable technology and public trust.

  5. January 2025

    AFL-CIO Technology Institute director

    In January 2025, she serves as executive director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute and argues that unions should engage with emerging technologies and involve workers in research and development.

  6. As of October 2026

    Fellow at New America

    As of October 2026, she is a senior fellow for Workers and Tech at New America and a visiting scholar at the MIT Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work. Her October 2026 essay argues that workers and communities need formal standing in decisions that shape AI.

Sources and credits

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  1. Presidential Colloquium: Amanda Ballantyne ’02 smith.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. National Policy Updates for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 | Small Business Majority app.livestorm.co. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints 27 Members to National AI Advisory Committee | NIST nist.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. The State of the Science | Fall 2024 issues.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Amanda Ballantyne - New America newamerica.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Aligning Innovation and Equity in the Digital Economy - MIT Stone Center on Inequality and Shaping the Future of Work shapingwork.mit.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Working People Need Standing to Shape the AI Economy - New America newamerica.org. Checked 15 October 2026.