Leonard Francis Vibbi, a graduate student at the MIT Media Lab and research assistant at MIT GOV/LAB, has been chosen as a fellow for the AI2Amplify fellowship program. The program aims to develop AI products and applications that benefit the public good and promote inclusion in the AI field. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and managed by the Goethe-Institut, the program seeks to encourage international and interdisciplinary exchange and promote inclusion in the AI field by exploring how AI products can better align with the cultural realities, needs, and interests of the Global South.

As an AI2Amplify fellow, Leonard will advance his thesis work on two areas of research. First, he will develop a digital platform for community-values-driven data engagement to promote ethical data agency, which is essential for responsible AI algorithms and applications. Second, he will explore how AI technologies can improve government public service innovation and delivery in sub-Saharan Africa.