The Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape is evolving so rapidly it can seem hard to keep up. Cutting-edge innovations like ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Lumen, are poised to reshape everything from how we research and work to key aspects of entire industries like transportation, entertainment, and healthcare. Given AI’s potential to change the world as we know it, staying abreast of the latest developments in this dynamic field has become a necessity. And AI influencers provide some of the most timely and useful insights. They actively engage with the AI community, providing timely glimpses into trends, advancements, and other happenings in the industry.
Read on for a curated list of the top AI influencers to follow in 2023. These thought leaders are playing pivotal roles in the evolution of AI by helping to shape the future of this exciting field.
Bernard Marr
AI Influencer & Author
WHO IS BERNARD MARR?
Bernard Marr is a highly successful social media and AI influencer at the intersection of business and technology. He is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Marr has written several best-selling books on AI, big data, and key performance indicators. His work includes “Data Strategy: How to Profit from a World of Big Data,” which provides insights into leveraging big data for business success.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Marr’s work has been instrumental in bridging the gap between business and technology. His insights and advice have helped governments and companies strategically leverage technology for growth and success. His books and keynote speeches have educated and inspired many in the field of AI and big data.
Fei-Fei Li
AI Researcher & Advocate
Fei-Fei Li is an American computer scientist who is renowned for her work in AI research. She is the inaugural Sequoia Professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University and Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute.
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
Li co-founded AI4ALL, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in AI education, research, development, and policy. She is also known for her work on ImageNet, a large visual database designed for use in visual object recognition software research.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HER WORK?
Li’s work has been instrumental in advancing the field of AI, particularly in the area of computer vision. Her efforts in establishing ImageNet have led to significant advancements in computer vision technologies. Additionally, through AI4ALL, she has made strides in promoting diversity and inclusion within the AI field.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HER?
You can follow Fei-Fei on LinkedIn , and Google Scholar . You can also find her work and contributions on her Stanford University profile .
Andrew Ng
AI Educator
Andrew Ng is a British-American AI influencer, computer scientist, and technology entrepreneur, globally recognized for his work in AI. He is the Founder & CEO of DeepLearning.AI and Landing AI. Ng was a co-founder and head of Google Brain and was the former Chief Scientist at Baidu, where he built the company’s Artificial Intelligence Group into a team of several thousand people.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Ng has made significant contributions to AI through his work at AI companies like Google Brain and Baidu. He has also established and led numerous AI-based projects and companies, bringing AI education to the masses. He is the co-founder of Coursera, an online learning platform, and Deeplearning.ai , an educational platform dedicated to AI.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Ng’s work in deep learning and its applications in fields like speech recognition and computer vision has been transformative. His contributions have not only advanced artificial intelligence research but also made it more accessible to learners worldwide.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Andrew on his website , LinkedIn , YouTube , and Google Scholar . You can also find his courses on Coursera and his work at Stanford University .
Ronald van Loon
Data Maestro
Ronald van Loon is a leading AI influencer in the world of data and analytics, automation, and the future economy. He is the CEO of Intelligent World, a global tech event educational marketplace of global thought leaders, analysts, and influencers. He is also the Director at Adversitement, a data & analytics consultancy firm, and serves as an Advisory Board Member & course advisor for leading professional certification training company Simplilearn.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Van Loon has made significant strides in advancing education and thought leadership in big data, IoT, AI, machine learning, 5G, deep learning, predictive analytics, and cloud technologies. His work spans multiple platforms and industries, providing insights and expertise to data-driven companies.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Through his work, van Loon has helped numerous companies generate value from data. His influence in the fields of AI, Big Data, Data Science, IoT, Machine Learning, Analytics, Cloud, and 5G is recognized globally. For example, Onalytica named him the world’s #1 influencer in Data and Analytics, Automation, and the Future Economy.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Ronald on LinkedIn , YouTube , Instagram , and Twitter . You can also find his work on Simplilearn and Intelligent World .
Kirk Borne
Data Science Evangelist
Kirk Borne is a renowned data scientist and astrophysicist who has made significant contributions to both academia and industry. He is the Principal Data Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton and previously served as a professor at George Mason University, where he taught astrophysics and computational science.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Borne has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between data science theory and practical application. His work at Booz Allen Hamilton involves applying data science techniques to solve complex problems. He is also known for his educational efforts, frequently speaking at conferences, writing articles, and engaging with the data science community on social media.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Borne’s work has transformed the way organizations leverage data for decision-making. His expertise in data mining and machine learning has been instrumental in developing models that make sense of vast and complex data sets. As an educator, he has also played a significant role in guiding future data scientists and advancing the data science field.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Dr. Borne on his personal website , LinkedIn , and Instagram . You can also find his work on DataScienceCentral.com and Crunchbase .
Andrej Karpathy
AI Visionary
Andrej Karpathy is a Slovak-Canadian computer scientist and AI innovator known for his work in the field of artificial intelligence. He was the Senior Director of AI at Tesla, where he led the computer vision team of Tesla Autopilot. He is currently associated with OpenAI, a leading organization in artificial intelligence research and development.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Karpathy has made significant strides in the field of AI, particularly in computer vision and deep learning. His work at Tesla involved in-house data labeling, neural network training, and more. He has also contributed to large-scale video classification with convolutional neural networks.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Karpathy’s work regarding the use of AI in the automotive industry, particularly in the development of autonomous driving technologies has pushed the automotive industry forward. His research in deep learning and computer vision has also contributed to advancements in these fields.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Andrej on his personal website , LinkedIn , YouTube , and Google Scholar . You can also find his work on his academic website at Stanford and his GitHub .
Yann LeCun
Convolutional Neural Networks Pioneer
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
LeCun is renowned for his work on optical character recognition and computer vision using convolutional neural networks (CNN), and he is considered a founding father of convolutional nets. He is also one of the main creators of the DjVu image compression technology. He co-developed the Lush programming language and has made significant contributions to machine learning methods.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
LeCun’s work, particularly his development of convolutional neural networks, has had a sizeable impact on the field of artificial intelligence. His contributions have advanced the capabilities of machine learning and computer vision, leading to practical applications in various fields. He was awarded the 2018 Turing Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Computing”, alongside Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton for their work on deep learning.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Yann on his Twitter and Google Scholar .
Kate Crawford
AI Ethicist
Kate Crawford is a distinguished writer, composer, producer, and academic. She is a leading scholar on the social implications of artificial intelligence. Crawford is a principal researcher at Microsoft Research and the co-founder and former director of research at the AI Now Institute at NYU.
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
Crawford has made significant contributions to the understanding of AI’s social implications. Her work focuses on understanding technology in the wider context of history, politics, and culture. She has also written a book titled “Atlas of AI” (Yale, 2021), which delves into the societal aspects of AI.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HER WORK?
Crawford’s work has been instrumental in highlighting the ethical considerations and societal impacts of AI. Her research has shed light on the importance of considering these factors in the development and deployment of human-centered artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HER?
You can follow Kate on her personal website , Microsoft Research page , and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism . You can also find her work at the AI Now Institute and on her ACLU profile .
Oriol Vinyals
Deep Learning Pioneer
Oriol Vinyals is a Spanish machine learning researcher and a Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind. He leads the Deep Learning group at DeepMind and has previously worked with the Google Brain team. Vinyals is known for his extensive work in the field of deep learning and artificial intelligence.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Vinyals has made significant contributions to the field of deep learning and AI. His research at DeepMind has been regularly featured in mainstream media, and he has been instrumental in the development of several AI technologies. He has also worked on various applications of deep learning at Google Brain.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Vinyals’ research in deep learning and AI has advanced our understanding of these technologies and has contributed to the development of more sophisticated AI systems. His work has also been instrumental in the development of AI technologies like AlphaStar, AlphaFold, and AlphaCode.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Oriol on his Google Research page , LinkedIn , and Twitter . You can also find his work on Google Scholar and his Wikipedia page .
Geoffrey Hinton
Godfather of AI
Geoffrey Everest Hinton is a British-Canadian cognitive psychologist and computer scientist, renowned for his work on artificial neural networks. Often referred to as the “Godfather of AI,” Hinton has made significant contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and deep learning.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Hinton has been instrumental in the development of several key AI technologies. He has designed machine learning algorithms with the aim of finding complex structures in large, high-dimensional datasets. His research on using back-propagation to help machines learn has been fundamental to the field.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Hinton’s work has been transformative for the field of AI. His research on artificial neural networks has been pivotal in the development of deep learning, a subset of machine learning that has become integral to many AI systems today. His contributions have shaped the modern landscape of AI and continue to influence its future direction.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Geoffrey on his Twitter and his University of Toronto page . You can also find his work at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence and on his Wikipedia page .
Allie K. Miller
AI Business Builder
Allie K. Miller is a top artificial intelligence leader, advisor, and investor. She is known for her work in building and scaling businesses in the era of artificial intelligence. Previously, she served as the Global Head of Machine Learning Business Development for startups and venture capital at Amazon Web Services.
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
Miller has made significant strides in the field of AI, particularly in its application to business development. She has worked with both Fortune 500 companies and startups, advising them on AI strategy and implementation. She is also passionate about increasing education and diversity in technology.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HER WORK?
Miller’s work on the application of AI in business and her expertise in AI and machine learning have helped numerous businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, leverage these technologies to drive growth and innovation and stay up to date on the latest in AI.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HER?
You can follow Allie on her personal website , LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . You can also find her work on Amazon Science and her TikTok .
Aleksandra Przegalińska-Skierkowska
AI Futurist
Aleksandra Katarzyna Przegalińska-Skierkowska is a Polish futurist, AI influencer, an associate professor of management and artificial intelligence, and a vice-rector at Kozminski University. She is known for her research on new technologies, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
Przegalińska-Skierkowska has made significant contributions to the understanding of artificial intelligence and its implications for management. She has conducted extensive research on green and sustainable technology, humanoid artificial intelligence, and social robots. She has also served as a Research Fellow at the Center for Collective Intelligence at MIT.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HER WORK?
Przegalińska-Skierkowska’s work has affected the understanding of AI and its potential applications in management and sustainable technology. Her research has contributed to the development of AI technologies and has helped shape the future direction of these fields.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HER?
You can follow Aleksandra on her LinkedIn , Google Scholar , and Kozminski University page . You can also find her work on the European Cybersecurity Forum and her Wikipedia page .
Jimmy Slagle
Data Science Enthusiast
Jimmy Slagle is a data scientist and AI influencer with a passion for diving into data and crafting visualizations. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of generAI, a company that leverages artificial intelligence for business solutions.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Slagle has made significant strides in the field of data science. He has worked on various data science projects, leveraging his expertise to provide valuable insights and solutions. His work at generAI involves using AI to start and scale e-commerce businesses.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Slagle’s work and public persona as an AI influencer cover the application of data science and AI in business. His expertise in data science and AI has helped numerous businesses leverage these technologies to drive growth and innovation.
Rowan Cheung
AI Communicator
Rowan Cheung is the founder of The Rundown AI, the world’s fastest-growing AI newsletter. He is dedicated to sharing the latest developments in the world of artificial intelligence and making this complex field more accessible and understandable to a wider audience.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Cheung has brought awareness to AI and created a platform, The Rundown AI, that informs millions about the latest advancements in AI and how they are shaping our world. His work also includes creating digital products to help people leverage AI.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Cheung’s work as an AI influencer has impacted global communication and understanding of AI. His newsletter, The Rundown AI, has garnered a large following in a short span of time, demonstrating the demand for accessible information on AI advancements.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Rowan on his LinkedIn , The Rundown AI website , and YouTube .
Anima Anandkumar
AI Research Leader
Animashree (Anima) Anandkumar is the Bren Professor of Computing at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a director of Machine Learning research at NVIDIA. She is known for her work in large-scale machine learning, non-convex optimization, and high-dimensional statistics.
WHAT HAS SHE DONE?
Anandkumar has made significant contributions to the field of AI and machine learning. Her research focuses on tensor algebraic methods, deep learning, and non-convex problems. She has also been instrumental in driving machine learning research at NVIDIA.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HER WORK?
Anandkumar’s work has had a profound impact on the field of AI and machine learning. Her research has advanced our understanding of these technologies and has contributed to the development of more sophisticated AI systems. Her contributions have shaped the modern landscape of AI and continue to influence its future direction.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HER?
You can follow Anima on her Caltech page , LinkedIn , Google Scholar , and NVIDIA Research page . You can also find her work on her Wikipedia page and her NVIDIA Blog author page .
Greg Coquillo
AI Strategist
Greg Coquillo is a technology manager at Amazon with a passion for solving business use cases such as growth, go-to-market, and price optimization. He is known for his work in driving the adoption of AI products that support private brands’ product safety and compliance.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Coquillo has made significant strides in the field of AI, particularly in its application to business development. He has owned P&L for commodity-based products and has been instrumental in re-learning statistics, probability, and data science to apply strategically in his job.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Coquillo’s work has had an impact on the application of AI in business. His expertise in AI and machine learning has helped Amazon leverage these technologies to drive growth and innovation.
You can follow Greg on his LinkedIn , Twitter , and YouTube . You can also find his work on DataTalks.Club and his Data Transformers Podcast .
Sundar Pichai
Tech Titan
Pichai Sundararajan, better known as Sundar Pichai, is an American business executive of Indian descent. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google. Pichai began his career as a materials engineer and has since become one of the most influential figures in the tech industry.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Pichai joined Google in 2004 and helped lead the development of Google Toolbar and Google Chrome. In 2015, he became the CEO of Google and, in 2019, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Pichai’s work has had a profound impact on the tech industry. Under his leadership, Google has developed and launched numerous innovative products and services that are used by billions of people worldwide. His contributions have helped shape the digital landscape and continue to drive technological innovation.
You can follow Sundar on his Instagram and Twitter . You can also find his work on his Wikipedia page , Google Blog , and Crunchbase profile .
Andy Fitze
AI Strategist & Influencer
Andy Fitze is a digital cognitive strategist, AI influencer, and a top global AI and digital transformation advisor for startups and enterprise boards.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Fitze has made significant contributions to the field of AI, particularly in its application to business development. He is a co-founder of SwissCognitive, a global AI hub that fosters the exchange of AI knowledge and insights among businesses, researchers, and AI enthusiasts.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Fitze’s work and expertise in AI and digital transformation has helped numerous businesses, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, leverage these technologies to drive growth and innovation.
WHERE CAN YOU FIND HIM?
You can follow Andy on his LinkedIn , Twitter , and Instagram . You can also find his work on SwissCognitive and his Crunchbase profile .
Fabrizio Bustamante
AI Entertainer
Fabrizio Bustamante is an AI influencer and advocate. He is known for his active presence on Twitter, where he shares the latest news, insights, and developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
WHAT HAS HE DONE?
Bustamante has made significant contributions to the AI community through his social media presence. He actively shares and promotes AI-related content, helping to keep his followers informed about the latest trends and advancements in the field.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK?
Bustamante’s efforts to share and promote AI-related content have helped to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of AI among his followers and lead the way for a new generation of AI influencers.
You can follow Fabrizio on his Twitter .
Conclusion
Sundar Pichai once said that AI could be “more profound than … electricity or fire.” And Andrew Ng has said, “It is difficult to think of a major industry that AI will not transform.” Given AI’s seismic importance, gaining insights into the industry is not only inspiring but also crucial for staying ahead of the curve regarding AI applications in your career and industry.
While numerous AI influencers offer valuable perspectives, the 20 highlighted in this article cover a broad spectrum of AI domains, providing a comprehensive and multifaceted view. So don’t let this ship sail without you on board; stay informed, stay ready, and steer towards a promising future by keeping a close eye on these AI influencers.