Verity Harding

[1]

Verity Harding
BornOctober 1984 (age 40)
EducationPembroke College, Oxford
Harvard University
Organization(s)Special Adviser
Nick Clegg
Google
DeepMind
University of Cambridge
Princeton University Press
Websitehttps://verityharding.com/

Verity Harding is an expert in AI and technology policy, named Time100's most influential people in AI 2023.[2] She is a published author of AI Needs You, Princeton University Press[3] and Director of the AI and Geopolitics Project (AIxGEO)[4] at the Bennett Institute of Public Policy, University of Cambridge. Harding is also Founder of Formation Advisory Ltd, a bespoke AI consultancy.[5][6]

Her previous roles include the first Global Head of Policy at DeepMind, Head of Security Policy at Google and Special Adviser to former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,[7] Nick Clegg.

Education and early career

Harding studied history at Pembroke College, Oxford.[8] In 2007, she was a Michael von Clemm Fellow at Harvard University.[9]

In 2022, she became an affiliated researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge as Director of the AI and Geopolitics Project (AIxGEO).[10]

Career

Harding served as Special Adviser to former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Nick Clegg until 2013, [11][12][13] where she was responsible for home affairs and justice.[14] She was part of the fight for same-sex marriage movement in the UK.[15][16]

In 2013, Harding was appointed Head of Security Policy at Google.[11] In 2016, she became the first Global Head of Policy for DeepMind, establishing the company's first Ethics & Society Unit the following year.[17] In 2018, Harding was appointed Co-Chair of the Partnership on AI Fair, Transparent, and Accountable AI working group alongside Ed Felton, Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer for The White House. She also served on the OECD Artificial Intelligence expert group.[18]

In 2022, Harding founded Formation Advisory Ltd, a bespoke AI consultancy. In 2024, Harding published AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own,[19] Princeton University Press, which shares her perspective as a leading insider in technology and politics on AI and its possible futures.[19] Her book was chosen by Lila Ibrahim for McKinsey's 2024 annual book recommendations.[20]

From 2018-2023, Harding served on the Board of Friends of the Royal Academy of Arts.[21] She is a member of the UK's Government's Cabinet Office Digital Advisory Board,[22] which provides independent advise to the Government''s Digital and Data function.

Recognition

In 2023, Harding was recognised as one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in AI 2023.[23] In 2018, she was named by City A.M. as one of the Power 100 Women. In 2015 she was described by Management Today as being one of the Top Women in UK business.[24]

References

  1. ^ "The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023". Time. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  2. ^ "The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023". Time. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  3. ^ "AI Needs You | Princeton University Press". press.princeton.edu. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ^ "AI & Geopolitics Project (AIxGEO)". Bennett Institute for Public Policy. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Formation Advisory". Formation Advisory. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Verity Harding". Verity Harding. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Digital Advisory Board". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  8. ^ "TECHINVEST | Verity Harding". Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  9. ^ "The Pembrokian, Issue 31, Jun 2007". Issuu. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Verity Harding". Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b Owens, John. "Clegg adviser Verity Harding joins Google in policy role". prweek.com. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  12. ^ "The Pembrokian, Issue 38, Jul 2013". Issuu. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  13. ^ "January to March 2012 release of Special Advisers working for Deputy Prime Minister's Office hospitality in CSV format - GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  14. ^ Events, Maddox. "Women of Silicon Roundabout 2018| Speakers". women-in-technology.com. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  15. ^ Featherstone, Lynne (26 January 2016). Equal Ever After: The Fight for Same-Sex Marriage - and How I Made It Happen. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781785900143.
  16. ^ "The Liberal Democrat Equal Marriage Act Roll of Honour". Liberal Democrat Voice. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  17. ^ Temperton, James. "DeepMind's new AI ethics unit is the company's next big move". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Digital - OECD" (PDF). oecd.org. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  19. ^ a b "AI Needs You | Princeton University Press". press.princeton.edu. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  20. ^ "What to read next: McKinsey's 2024 annual book recommendations | McKinsey". www.mckinsey.com. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  21. ^ "FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY(THE) - Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  22. ^ "Digital Advisory Board". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  23. ^ "TIME100 AI 2023: Verity Harding". Time. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  24. ^ Anderson, Elizabeth (5 July 2015). "Are these the top 35 business women in Britain today?". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 December 2018.