PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Liz O’Sullivan

Liz O’Sullivan is CEO of Vera, an AI reliability platform, and a public critic of military and surveillance uses of AI. After studying philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill, she quit her computer-vision job at Clarifai in 2019 to protest the company’s work on Project Maven, a Department of Defense program. She co-founded Arthur AI, an AI explainability and bias-monitoring startup, and was the first technology director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. She left both in May 2021 to co-found Vera, and in October 2021 she was CEO of Parity. In April 2022 she became one of 27 inaugural members of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee.

Now at
Vera

Timeline

  1. 2012

    A philosophy degree at UNC

    She earns a philosophy degree at UNC Chapel Hill, in the class of 2012.

  2. 2019

    Quitting Clarifai over Project Maven

    In 2019 she leaves Clarifai, a New York company that works in computer vision, to protest its work on Project Maven, a Department of Defense program. She describes herself as a conscientious tech objector.

  3. By 2020

    Co-founding Arthur AI

    By 2020 she co-founds Arthur AI, an AI explainability and bias monitoring startup, as its vice president of commercial operations. She also becomes the first technology director of STOP, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.

  4. May 2021

    Co-founding Vera

    In May 2021 she leaves Arthur and STOP to co-found Vera, an AI validation company.

  5. October 2021

    Running Parity as CEO

    In October 2021 she is CEO of Parity, a platform that automates model risk and algorithmic governance for the enterprise.

  6. April 2022

    An inaugural NAIAC member

    In April 2022 she is one of 27 inaugural members of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, a group formed to advise the president and federal agencies on AI policy.

  7. October 2023

    A $2.7M pre-seed round

    In October 2023 she is CEO of Vera, which raises $2.7M in a pre-seed round for its platform that enforces privacy, security and fairness policies for AI.

  8. As of October 2026

    Chief executive of Vera

    As of October 2026 she is CEO of Vera, the AI reliability platform, and she advises on AI policy.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Liz O’Sullivan yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Sounding an Alarm About AI - Carolina Alumni alumni.unc.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Liz O'Sullivan lizjosullivan.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. This Tech Worker Objected To Company's Work On Military Project : NPR npr.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Liz O’Sullivan fedsoc.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Responsible AI Systems & Experiences (RAISE): Liz O’Sullivan | Information School | University of Washington ischool.uw.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Liz O'Sullivan, Author at TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. 27 Artificial Intelligence Experts First To Serve On Commerce Advisory Board nextgov.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints 27 Members to National AI Advisory Committee | NIST nist.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.
  9. Vera Raises $2.7M to Ensure AI Models are Secure, Clear of Bias, and Following Brand Guidelines alleywatch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  10. Vera-fy Your A.I.: Liz O'Sullivan with Sylvia Kuyel ideas.scotthartley.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  11. Liz O'Sullivan: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region nku.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  12. About Us askvera.io. Checked 15 October 2026.