Our “Line of Sight” podcast produced together with the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship released a new episode featuring Dr. Maya Ackerman, assistant professor, Computer Engineering, and one of our own faculty scholars here at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Dr. Ackerman is an award-winning Artificial Intelligence expert, named “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and CEO/Co-founder of WaveAI, today’s most advanced musical AI startup.
In this episode, Don Heider and Brigit Helms chat with Ackerman about her inspiration to start WaveAI, its creative applications, the societal fear of using AI as an aid for artistry, and her experience as an entrepreneur bridging the gap between the music industry and STEM. She emphasizes using this AI to “foster human creativity” rather than being autonomous. Also discussed are the challenge for women and minority entrepreneurs to obtain funding from investors, gender disparities in the workforce, and the necessary steps to combat implicit bias. She stresses that while STEM lacks representative diversity, they are aware of the problem and working toward a solution, something that venture capitalists need to do as well when investing in startups run by women and minorities.
To listen to this episode and view a full list of past conversations, visit the “Line of Sight” podcast page for more information.