Data in the Age of AI: In Conversation with Sean Decatur and Alondra Nelson

Join us for a discussion between Museum President Sean Decatur and Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study Alondra Nelson. One of the architects of the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and a leading scholar at the intersection of science, technology, and society, Nelson has shaped national and global conversations on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, data ethics, and public policy.   

This conversation will explore how data—whether genetic, personal, or institutional—shapes our lives and the broader social impacts of emerging technologies. From the ethical challenges of AI in museums and scientific research to the lessons learned from global data privacy laws, Nelson will offer insights into the promises and risks of an increasingly data-driven world. Together, Nelson and Decatur will also discuss the responsibilities of institutions like museums in the era of open science, the tensions between public data as a common good and its commodification, and the evolving principles of AI policy in the current presidential administration. 

Nelson will reflect on the AI Bill of Rights’ role in protecting personal data, ensuring transparency in AI-driven decisions, and safeguarding public interest in an era of rapid technological advancement. Drawing from her experience as acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as well as on her research on race, genomics, and digital governance, Nelson brings a critical perspective on how we can navigate the future of data privacy and AI and realize equitable technological progress.