EqualAI appoints Reggie Townsend of SAS to board

EqualAI Appoints Reggie Townsend, Director of the Data Ethics Practice at SAS and Member of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee, to its Board

SAS, a leader in AI and analytics, joins EqualAI as newest corporate member

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 31, 2022 — EqualAI, a nonprofit organization and leading voice focused on reducing unconscious bias in the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), today announced the appointment of Reggie Townsend, the Director of Data Ethics at SAS, to its board of directors. “I’m honored to join the board of EqualAI and work with the team on expanding AI accountability, inclusivity and equity,” said Townsend. “AI comes with promise and peril. As AI proliferates and penetrates so many aspects of our lives, now is a critical time in our history to take action. I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to the meaningful work of the organization.” “Reggie’s deep understanding with regard to mitigating harms through fair, sustainable applications of data, artificial intelligence and other technologies is a critical piece of delivering on our mission,” said Miriam Vogel, president and CEO of EqualAI and Chair of the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC). “I am also highly appreciative to have SAS take a position of leadership in their industry by becoming a member of EqualAI and committing to the innovative, responsible, and inclusive artificial intelligence.” On the Board, Townsend will lend his technical expertise, as well as his experience in establishing a framework to support responsible AI development within SAS, to the related efforts underway at EqualAI. Having recently earned an EqualAI badge in Responsible AI governance, he is well suited to help scale the programs, tools and offerings that EqualAI provides to its members and the broader community. Townsend’s commitment to trustworthy AI aligns with EqualAI’s mission to lead in the movement for innovative, responsible, and inclusive artificial intelligence.

About EqualAI

EqualAI is a nonprofit organization that was created to reduce unconscious bias in the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) through the development of responsible AI governance. AI is transforming our society— enabling important and exciting developments that were unimaginable just a few years ago. With these immense benefits comes significant responsibility. Together with leaders and experts across industry, academia, technology, and government, EqualAI is developing standards and tools to increase awareness and reduce bias, as well as identifying regulatory and legislative solutions. EqualAI’s podcast “In AI we Trust?” with Miriam Vogel and Kay Firth-Butterfield of the World Economic Forum aims to answer a ‘big question’ in responsible AI use with prominent lawmakers, leading thinkers, and internationally renowned authors. EqualAI’s Badge program on responsible AI governance, also in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, provides senior executives with guidance on best practices and strategies to develop and deploy trustworthy AI across enterprise.