Who Is Joy Buolamwini? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Joy Buolamwini was born on January 23, 1990, making her 35 years old as of 2025. A renowned computer scientist and digital activist, she has made significant contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias. Buolamwini is best known for founding the Algorithmic Justice League, an organization aimed at combating bias in AI systems and advocating for responsible technology. Her groundbreaking work has earned her a multitude of accolades, solidifying her position as a leader in tech ethics.
| Occupation | Computer Scientist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1990 |
| Age | 35 Years |
| Birth Place | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Canada |
Popularity
Joy Buolamwini's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While exact measurements may vary, it is reported that Joy Buolamwini stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm) and weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). Her physical attributes, alongside her intellectual prowess, contribute to her well-rounded character as a prominent figure in technology and activism.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Joy Buolamwini maintains a relatively private life when it comes to her personal relationships. There has been no confirmed information regarding her dating status or whether she has a boyfriend or girlfriend. Further, she focuses extensively on her career and activism, leading many to believe that she prioritizes her work over romantic entanglements.
Buolamwini has lived in Ghana; Barcelona, Spain; Oxford, United Kingdom; and, in the U.S., Memphis, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. She describes herself as a "daughter of the science and of the arts", her father being an Academic and her mother an artist, as well as a Poet of Code.
Net Worth and Salary
Joy Buolamwini's net worth is estimated to be in the range of $1 million to $5 million as of 2025. Her earnings stem from various sources, including her work as a speaker, consultant, and her engagements in academic and non-profit ventures. Her growing influence in the tech industry is likely to boost her financial standing in the coming years.
Career, Business and Investments
Buolamwini’s career has been marked by her pioneering research in computer science, particularly in the area of facial recognition technologies and bias. Her organization, the Algorithmic Justice League, has helped raise awareness around the ethical implications of AI and has led initiatives for fairer algorithms. She has spoken at numerous conferences, authored impactful articles, and has been featured in various documentaries highlighting the urgent need for ethical considerations in technology. Joy continues to expand her professional horizons by engaging in collaborations with tech companies, research institutions, and policy advocacy groups.
Buolamwini was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab, where she worked to identify bias in algorithms and to develop practices for accountability during their design; at the lab, Buolamwini was a member of Ethan Zuckerman's Center for Civic Media group.
During her research, Buolamwini showed 1,000 faces to facial recognition systems and asked the systems to identify whether faces were female or male, and found that the software found it hard to identify dark-skinned women. Her project, Gender Shades, became part of her MIT thesis.
Her 2018 paper Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification prompted responses from IBM and Microsoft to take corrective actions to improve the accuracy of their algorithms, swiftly improved their software demonstrating her influence on the industry.
She also created the Aspire Mirror, a device that lets users see a reflection of themselves based on what inspires them. Her program, Algorithmic Justice League, aims to highlight the bias in code that can lead to discrimination against underrepresented groups. She has created two films, Code4Rights and Algorithmic Justice League: Unmasking Bias.
Still the director, Code4rights is an advocacy organization started in 2012 intended to use technology to spread awareness of human rights. She served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Techturized Inc., a hair-care technology company.
Social Network
Joy Buolamwini is active on multiple social media platforms, where she utilizes her influence to advocate for justice and raise awareness about algorithmic biases. You can find her on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, where she shares insights from her work, as well as updates on her activism. Her engaging presence fosters a community of followers who support her cause and are eager to learn about the intersection of technology and social issues.
The AJL website provides information and a live blog. There are several sections on the site where users can share stories, and donate or write to US Congressional representatives.
Buolamwini has influenced policy discussions to address gender discrimination in AI applications, advocating for regulations that ensure fairness in AI-powered decision-making systems. In 2019, she testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform about the risks of facial recognition technology.
Her testimony emphasized the need for accountability in the deployment of facial recognition technologies, particularly in areas where these systems could exacerbate gender inequities.
Education
Buolamwini holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Media Arts and Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her academic background has equipped her with a robust understanding of both technical and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence, allowing her to serve as a powerful advocate for inclusivity in tech development.
At age nine, she was inspired by Kismet, the MIT robot, and taught herself XHTML, JavaScript and PHP. As a student-athlete, she was a competitive pole vaulter and played basketball. In a podcast episode she recorded on Brené Brown's show "Dare to Lead", she recalls completing her AP Physics homework between basketball break times.
