Karen Hao

Karen Hao is an award-winning AI Reporter and the New York Times bestselling author of ‘Empire of AI’, a deep dive into OpenAI’s transformation from an idealistic nonprofit to an exploitative, imperial empire. Karen is currently the Lead Designer for the AI Spotlight Series at the Pulitzer Centre, and is a board member for the University of California’s Co-Opting AI Series Board and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism’s AI Advisory Board. 

Achieving a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, she began her career at one of the first startups to come out of Google, Flux Data Inc, where she was an Application Designer. She then served in several editorial positions before becoming a Senior Editor and AI Reporter for the MIT Technology Review, teaching reporters how to write about AI. She was a Knight Science Journalist Fellow at MIT, as well as a Technology and Public Purpose Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Centre. Most notably, Karen was a Foreign Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, where she focused on China's technology and AI industries. She was also a contributing writer to The Atlantic

Through her investigative reporting and in-depth insights, Karen has earned various recognitions, such as the American National Magazine Award for her ‘Outstanding Achievement for Magazine Journalism Under Age 30’, and the American Humanist Media Award. Her former newsletter was named ‘One of the Best Newsletters on the Internet’ in 2018 by the Webby Awards. Karen has had pieces of her work cited by Congress, featured in a university curriculum, and as part of museum exhibits. Her book ‘Empire of AI’ dives into how ethical AI truly is and the deep societal impacts it is having, and explores the chaotic background behind OpenAI’s CEO. 

Delving into the need for technical and social experts to collaborate on and understand how technology is altering society, Karen’s TEDx talk ‘Why We Need to Democratise How We Build AI’ argues that creating AI should not be monopolised by digital elites. She has been featured on numerous podcasts, such as Pioneers of AI and Novara Media, having also appeared on various media outlets like CBSN, CNN, Democracy Now!, and BBC. Karen delivers keynotes on the ethics of AI and the intricate impacts it is having on society, politics, and the environment, speaking at ARS Electronica Festival on how AI is recreating a colonial world order.