AI 2030 GLOBAL FELLOW PROGRAM

AI 2030 Global Fellows will participate in a prestigious one-year leadership and engagement program, representing AI 2030’s highest-tier membership dedicated to shaping the future of Responsible AI.

background & Rationale

About the Global Fellow Program

As AI continues to reshape industries, societies, economies, and the environment there is an urgent need for ethical, responsible, and inclusive AI leadership. AI 2030 is committed to mainstreaming Responsible AI by fostering a global network of AI leaders who drive ethical innovation, industry best practices, and policy engagement. To achieve this mission, AI 2030 launched the  Global Fellow Program—a  highly selective initiative designed to recognize and empower top AI 2030 members who are shaping the future of AI. 

In 2024, 50+ exceptional fellows from 10 countries were selected, representing diverse expertise across AI policy, research, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. These fellows played a pivotal role in high-impact initiatives, shaping global AI frameworks, driving responsible AI adoption in enterprises, and engaging in high-level dialogues with policymakers, business leaders, and investors at the world’s most influential forums like G20 Tech Sprint, the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting, Dialogue of the Dialogue of Continents, AWS re:Invest, etc. They were featured at major AI events, including Chicago AI Week, the AI Governance Forum, and the AI 2030 Responsible AI Leaders Forum, amplifying their thought leadership and shaping industry conversations. Additionally, fellows contributed to some of AI 2030’s most transformative initiatives, such as the Responsible AI Marketplace, Global AI Regulation Index, and Responsible AI Design Labs, fostering practical solutions for ethical AI implementation. These outcomes demonstrate the power of global collaboration in advancing Responsible AI, setting a strong foundation for the 2025 cohort.

2025 selection committee

Xiaochen Zhang

Founder, Executive Director & Chief Responsible AI Officer, AI 2030, USA

Tracy Raissis

Head of Strategy, AI 2030; USA

Giorgio Natili

Vice President and Head of Engineering, Opaque Systems; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, USA

DIYA WYNN

Responsible AI Lead, Amazon Web Services; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, USA

Raul Rodriguez

Vice President Woxsen University; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, India

Daniela Muhaj

Head of Research and Development, AI 2030, USA

Seyhun Hepdogan

Director Analytics, Fifth Third Bank; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, USA

Caroline Abadeer

Associate Director, BlueLabs; AI 2030 Global Fellow, USA

Marie Roker-Jones

Marie Roker-Jones

Women in AI and NYC Partnership Lead, AI 2030, USA

arjun Kannan

Data Science Research, Discover Financial Services; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, USA

Jerry Silber

Former Vice President | Deputy General Counsel, Verizon Business; AI 2030 Evangelist, USA

Manas Talukdar

Director of Engineering, Labelbox; AI 2030 Senior Fellow, USA

Prince Sarpong

Associate Professor of Finance, University of the Free State; AI 2030 Advisor, South Africa

Rajesh Sadhwani

Managing Director – Banking & Capital Markets; AI 2030 Advisor, UK

David Cahn

Co-Founder Cahn Reidy Advisors; Advisor, AI 2030

Cole Short

 Assistant Professor of Strategy Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Program Details

AI 2030 Global Fellows will participate in a prestigious one-year leadership and engagement program, representing AI 2030’s highest-tier membership dedicated to shaping the future of Responsible AI. The Program aims to:

  • Recognize and elevate top leaders and innovators in Responsible AI.

  • Build a Trusted Network of AI Trailblazers – Create a high-impact community of visionary leaders, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and global influence to drive groundbreaking advancements in Responsible AI.

  • Expand High-Impact Initiatives – Empower fellows to lead and collaborate on transformative AI 2030 initiatives

  • Equip fellows with exclusive opportunities, resources, and networks to amplify their impact.

  • Position AI 2030 Global Fellows as influential thought leaders driving the advancement of AI technology, governance, policy, ethical adoption, and industry best practices.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

The 2025 AI 2030 Global Fellow Program (2025 Cohort 1) is exclusively open to:
✔ Current AI 2030 members on the Circle.so platform
✔ Candidates invited by AI 2030 leadership
✔ Individuals referred through the AI 2030 Global Fellow Referral Program 

Selection Criteria: The selection committee will evaluate applicants based on:

  • Expertise & Impact – Proven contributions to AI research, industry, or policy.

  • Leadership & Community Empowerment– Demonstrates strong leadership in AI while actively engaging and empowering communities through AI initiatives.

  • Collaboration & Influence – Ability to drive cross-sector collaboration and industry-wide change.

  • Innovation & Vision – Unique approaches to addressing AI’s ethical, regulatory, and technological challenges.

A selection committee of AI 2030 executive team members and esteemed AI leaders will evaluate applications and select 50 fellows based on merit. 

 

5. Application & Selection Timeline

📅 Application Period: Opens February 24, 2025, and closes March 8, 2025
🔎 Selection Process: Evaluation by the AI 2030 selection committee
🎉 Global Fellow Announcement: March 27, 2025, at the AI 2030 Summit in NYC. Fellows will be officially announced at the AI 2030 Summit in NYC on March 27, 2025. The 2025 cohort 2 selection cycle begins on June 1, 2025,with the announcement of the new fellows at the AI 2030 Summit in NYC in September during UNGA week.

 

AI 2030 Global Fellow Program Tiers

The program features three distinguished categories, celebrating individuals at various stages of leadership and impact in Responsible AI. To sustain the excellence, merit-based recognition, and high-impact opportunities of the AI 2030 Global Fellow Program, we are introducing an annual membership fee for each tier starting in 2025.  Once we receive your expression of interest, we will share the program details, including the fee structure, so you can make an informed decision on your next steps.

AI 2030 Fellow (Emerging Leaders & Rising Experts)

  • Early to mid-career professionals making significant contributions to Responsible AI.
  • AI researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals driving responsible AI innovation.
  • Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders advancing ethical AI solutions.

 

 AI 2030 Senior Fellow (Proven Leaders & Industry Influencers)

  • Established professionals with 10+ years of experience in AI, policy, ethics, or industry.
  • Senior executives, researchers, or policymakers shaping AI governance and standards.
  • Influencers in AI strategy, innovation, or regulation.

 

AI 2030 Distinguished Fellow (Global Visionaries & AI Trailblazers)

  • By invitation only; not open for applications.
  • Visionary leaders who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to Responsible AI.
  • Global AI policymakers, C-suite executives, leading academics, and industry pioneers.
  • Individuals shaping the future of AI through policy, governance, research, or large-scale innovation. 

 

AI 2030 Initiatives

The AI 2030 Initiatives are designed to empower individuals, businesses, investors, and public sector
organizations to lead in responsible AI. Through pledges, leadership programs, and strategic collaborations,
these initiatives aim to drive responsible AI innovation, foster global collaboration, and ensure AI technologies
contribute positively to society and the environment.

AI 2030 For Individuals

Empowering individuals to lead in responsible AI and shape a global future focused on responsible AI practices

AI 2030 For Business

Supporting businesses in leading responsible AI innovation and integrating responsible AI practices into their operations.

AI 2030 For Investors

Empowering investors to fund responsible AI innovations that drive sustainable and ethical technological advancements.

AI 2030 For Public Sector

Guiding governments, universities, non-profits, and other public sector agencies in adopting and promoting responsible AI practices