AI Scientist Dr. Rana El Kaliouby Launches ‘Pioneers of AI’ Podcast

Egyptian-American AI scientist, tech entrepreneur, and venture capital investor Dr. Rana El Kaliouby has launched her latest venture: a podcast that is part of the Masters of Scale network, founded by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and Dr. Rana’s mentor. Launched on September 18th, ‘Pioneers of AI’ features Dr. Rana in conversation with AI experts - from innovators developing groundbreaking technologies to thinkers addressing ethical concerns - discussing how this rapidly evolving technology is transforming the way we live.

"Launching this podcast marks a new entrepreneurial journey for me. We envision it as a guide to all things AI - both for experts striving to keep up with rapid developments and for those unfamiliar with the field," Dr. Kaliouby tells StartupScene. "Our goal is to make AI more inclusive, encouraging people to embrace its benefits while acknowledging its potential pitfalls."

As an early pioneer of Emotional AI, Dr. Kaliouby is a leading figure in the field, with strong views about AI’s potential to change the world for the better.

"AI is evolving rapidly, and while it offers tremendous benefits, it also raises concerns. But when we understand it better, we fear it less. I believe AI holds great opportunities for us all, but only if we put humans at the centre," she says.

From a young age, Dr. Kaliouby was inspired by her parents, both technologists. She became fascinated by how humans interact with machines and the importance of integrating emotional intelligence (EQ) into AI modelling. This passion led her to pursue research, first at Cambridge University, where she completed her PhD after graduating from the American University in Cairo (AUC), and later at MIT, where she worked on developing AI capable of recognizing human emotions.

At MIT, the commercial applications of her research quickly became evident. This led her to co-found Affectiva, a company specialising in emotional AI. Affectiva's software, capable of recognizing 40 different emotional states through facial recognition, is now used by a third of Fortune 500 companies. The software has diverse applications, from tracking user engagement to optimising product experiences to real-time monitoring of drivers in the automotive industry to improve safety.

As a Muslim woman born outside of the West, being taken seriously in an industry dominated by men from predominantly white, middle class backgrounds was often an upwards struggle. This experience has fueled her passion for making the AI industry a more inclusive space. In the first episode of Pioneers of AI, which aired on Wednesday September 18th, Dr. Kaliouby sat down with Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, to discuss the role of racial bias in data sets and algorithms, how it perpetuates institutional racism, and the urgent need to create more inclusive AI systems.

‘Pioneers of A’ is now streaming on major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.