Danae MetaxaRaj and Neera Singh Term Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Information Science, was recently selected as Penn’s representative for United States AI Safety Institute Consortium.

The consortium, which was originally created in February 2024, focuses on creating guidelines, useful metrics and safety features for those using artificial intelligence. It brings together hundreds of organizations, consumers, leading industry specialists and researchers to ensure that AI can be used effectively and efficiently.

The consortium, housed within the US Department of Commerce, plans to contribute to President Joe Biden’s 2023. Executive order on ensuring safe, secure and reliable AI.

Metaxa is the author of “Auditing Algorithms: Understanding Algorithmic Systems from the Outside In” and has been invited to speak for The Nobel Prize SummitStanford University, John Hopkins University and more. Before coming to Penn, they were postdoctoral fellows at Stanford’s Center for Philanthropy and Civil Society Program on democracy and the Internet.

Metaxa previously taught a CIS 7000 “Algorithmic Justice” and now teaches a class on human-computer interaction. Penn HCI, year initiative co-founded, aims to develop technologies that have a positive impact on individuals and communities.

The consortium will help integrate experts and novices on this growing issue, especially as it could be a useful tool, but it could also have a detrimental impact on academia. Metaxa’s contributions will support the consortium by engaging in collaborative and interdisciplinary research, understanding the impact of AI on society and the economy, and facilitating technology transfer between consortium members.

“I am honored to bring my expertise to the consortium and represent Penn in this collaborative effort to keep AI safe and ethical,” Metaxa said in the Penn Engineering Today announcement. “It’s important to have these bridges to ensure that our research translates into reality. – the global impact.”