Janelle Shane

Janelle Shane is a scientist, writer, and public speaker specializing in artificial intelligence and optics. Shane works as a research scientist in Colorado, developing computer-controlled holograms for brain studies and other light-steering devices. She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Michigan State University, a Master of Philosophy in physics from the University of St. Andrews, and a doctorate from the University of California San Diego.

Shane has explored the boundaries of AI since launching her blog, AI Weirdness, where she documents the unpredictable and sometimes humorous behavior of machine learning algorithms. Her work often involves training neural networks on unconventional data sets, such as knitting instructions, ice cream flavors, and paint color names, to highlight the limitations and quirks of artificial intelligence. Through these experiments, Shane aims to provide a realistic perspective on AI, challenging narratives that overstate its capabilities.

Shane is the author of the book "You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How AI Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place," which presents AI concepts to a general audience using cartoons and pop-culture experiments. The book has received recommendations from notable authors and is recognized as an accessible introduction to artificial intelligence.

Shane has delivered talks on the main TED stage, discussing the realities and misconceptions surrounding AI. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, Popular Science, All Things Considered, Science Friday, and Marketplace. She served as the inaugural Futurist in Residence at the Smithsonian and was named among Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business and as an Adweek Young Influential.

Shane continues to contribute to the AI field through her blog, which has grown to more than 850 posts, and as a keynote speaker for audiences with varying levels of technical expertise. She writes for Fast Company and O'Reilly Media and has collaborated with CNN, The Guardian, New York Times Magazine, and New York Times. Shane is recognized for her ability to communicate the complexities and realities of artificial intelligence to both technical and general audiences.