Featured AI2er: Nicole DeCario
Nicole DeCario is the Director of AI & Society at AI2
What put you on the path to your current role?
Taking risks, prioritizing work I am passionate about, phenomenal mentors, and a little bit of luck!
I have a very non-linear career path; it’s been a very windy one! Once upon a time, I used to sing on Broadway — so that’s how this all started. And after achieving a level of success with that career I quickly realized it was not the lifestyle for me, so I decided to do something different. Someone thought it was a good idea to hire me as their assistant, and after that I was fortunate to have a series of awesome jobs with amazing female bosses who taught me how to run a business, how to lead with kindness, how to make tough decisions, and how to advocate for yourself (among many other things!).
12 years ago I decided to leave NYC: I flipped a coin (Seattle or San Francisco? Hmmm….), quit my job, and moved across the country. When I got to Seattle, I joined the team at a family foundation which solidified my passion for non-profit work, and I’ve been working in this space ever since.
Joining AI2 combined my love for mission-driven work, passion for learning, and drive to solve tough societal challenges; it was an unconventionally perfect combination of my interests and skills.
What’s the most interesting thing that has happened with your work at AI2 recently?
In January I started a brand new program at AI2 called AI & Society (focused on AI ethics, AI literacy, and AI policy), and it has exceeded all of my expectations. There is something new and interesting happening every day! One of my favorite things about this work is how relationship-driven it is. I’ve gotten to know more AI2 team members and external AI experts in the past 8 months than in my first several years combined at AI2. I believe we go farther faster when we work collaboratively, so I spend a lot of time plotting partnerships.
How does working at a non-profit differ from your previous work?
The bulk of my career has been in nonprofit work, but AI2 is a very unique nonprofit. Many nonprofits face challenges that AI2 does not, such as scarce resources. I’ve worked at nonprofits with budgets that couldn’t possibly support their broad ambitions, small overworked teams, and funder expectations that cause mission creep. AI2 runs more like a startup, so while it’s a nonprofit the structure is certainly unlike other nonprofits I’ve been a part of.
What are you looking forward to with your work in the coming months?
I am excited about policy discussions in the coming months that will have real impact on AI regulation. We’re finally moving from what we “should” be doing toward what we “must” be doing, and our team is helping build the AI literacy foundation to support that decision making. I am also looking forward to next steps for an exciting project we’ve been leading to create a tool for researchers (The Ethics Playbook) to embed ethical considerations into the design, development, and deployment of AI systems. This is a critical missing piece and a tough problem to solve — two of my favorite things to work on 🙂
What is your favorite thing about working at AI2?
I love that ideas can come from anyone anywhere in the organization. AI2 is a very entrepreneurial place to work — there is room to be creative, take risks, and question the status quo. I love that someone like me with a non-traditional background has a place here.
What do you consider the most underrated activity or place in Seattle?
I have a 5-year old, so I am probably in the least hip phase of my life. But Agua Verde and Fritz Hedges Waterway Park are where I would (actually I do!) go on repeat. Agua Verde has the best salmon tacos and prickly pear margaritas, and the park has a relaxing, rocky beach.
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