PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Sarah Myers West

As of October 2026, Sarah Myers West is co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, which produces policy research on artificial intelligence. Her 2019 Discriminating Systems report, written with Meredith Whittaker and Kate Crawford, found a diversity crisis in the AI sector across gender and race. The Federal Trade Commission named her an advisor on artificial intelligence in November 2021. In December 2023 she testified as managing director of AI Now before a Senate subcommittee on algorithms and competition. In June 2026 she appeared before the Senate Banking Committee to discuss the risks the AI industry poses to the US economy.

Works
32
Citations
1,651
h-index
13

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. April 2019

    The Discriminating Systems report

    With Meredith Whittaker and Kate Crawford, she co-writes the Discriminating Systems report on gender, race, and power in AI. The AI Now Institute publishes the report in April 2019, and it finds a diversity crisis in the AI sector across gender and race.

  2. November 2021

    An advisor at the FTC

    The Federal Trade Commission names her an advisor on artificial intelligence in November 2021, drawing her from NYU's Tandon School of Engineering, where she has been a research scholar.

  3. December 2023

    Testimony on algorithms and competition

    As managing director of AI Now, she testifies in December 2023 before a US Senate subcommittee on algorithms and competition.

  4. May 2024

    A TechCrunch interview

    TechCrunch profiles her in May 2024 in its Women in AI series, where she describes her policy work as co-director of AI Now.

  5. July 2025

    Critiquing the White House AI plan

    Speaking to Defense One in July 2025, she says the White House AI action plan reads just like a wish list from Silicon Valley.

  6. June 2026

    A Senate Banking testimony

    Before the Senate Banking Committee in June 2026, she highlights the risks the AI industry poses to the US economy and the broader public.

  7. As of October 2026

    Co-executive director of AI Now

    She is co-executive director of AI Now, which produces policy research on artificial intelligence. Her forthcoming book, Tracing Code, examines the origins of data capitalism and commercial surveillance.

Sources and credits

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  1. Per Axbom's Blog - Lack of representation in AI puts vulnerable people at risk - October 20, 2019 09:44 goodreads.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. FTC Chair Lina Khan Announces New Appointments in Agency Leadership Positions | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society benton.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Sarah Myers West Testifies Before the US Senate on Algorithms and Competition - AI Now Institute ainowinstitute.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Women in AI: Sarah Myers West says we should ask, 'Why build AI at all?' | TechCrunch techcrunch.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. How the White House AI plan helps, and hurts, in the race against China - AI Now Institute ainowinstitute.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. AI Now Co-Executive Director Sarah Myers West Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee - AI Now Institute ainowinstitute.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. About Us - AI Now Institute ainowinstitute.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Sarah Myers West, Author at AI Now Institute ainowinstitute.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  9. Sarah Myers West, Author at TechPolicy.Press techpolicy.press. Checked 15 October 2026.