Kay Firth Butterfield
About Kay Firth Butterfield
Kay Firth Butterfield serves as the Head of AI and Machine Learning at the World Economic Forum, where she has worked since 2017. She is an accomplished legal professional and advocate for ethical AI, with extensive experience in law, international relations, and AI ethics.
Current Role at World Economic Forum
Kay Firth Butterfield serves as the Head of AI and Machine Learning at the World Economic Forum. She has held this position since 2017, contributing to the development and implementation of AI strategies within the organization. In addition to her role as Head of AI and Machine Learning, she is also a member of the Executive Committee, where she plays a key role in shaping discussions around AI and its implications for global governance.
Education and Expertise
Kay Firth Butterfield holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Sussex, where she studied Law and International Politics. She furthered her education with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from St. Mary's University, focusing on Conflict and Security. Additionally, she completed her Barrister at Law at the Inns of Court School of Law and passed the Law Society Exams. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her work in AI ethics and law.
Professional Background
Before her current role, Kay Firth Butterfield worked at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (The RSA) as a Fellow from 2006 to 2014. She then served as Chief Officer of the Ethics Advisory Panel at Lucid AI from 2014 to 2016. Since 2020, she has been an Associate Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. Her diverse professional experiences contribute to her expertise in AI and legal frameworks.
Contributions to AI Ethics
Kay Firth Butterfield is actively involved in shaping global AI ethics standards. She is the Vice-Chair of The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems. She co-founded AI Global, focusing on the ethical development of AI. Additionally, she participated in creating the Asilomar AI Ethical Principles and serves on the Advisory Board for UNESCO International Research Centre on AI.
Recognition and Influence
In 2021, Kay Firth Butterfield was featured in the New York Times as one of 10 Women Changing the Landscape of Leadership. Her influence extends to various advisory roles, including serving on the Lord Chief Justice’s Advisory Panel on AI and Law and the Polaris Council for the Government Accountability Office (USA), where she advises on AI-related accountability and governance.