As part of TechCrunch’s Women in AI series, Sophia Velastegui, a prominent figure in the field and former chief AI officer at Microsoft, was interviewed. Velastegui, a member of the National Science Foundation’s AI advisory committee, did not initially plan to enter AI. After studying mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech, her interest in AI was piqued during her time at Apple in 2009, where she worked on AI-driven applications and products. Throughout her career, Velastegui contributed to the development of groundbreaking products such as the MacBook Air and iCloud. After working at Apple, she joined Google as head of silicon architecture and later moved to Microsoft, where she led AI initiatives across various business applications.

Recognizing Microsoft's rapid progress in AI under CEO Satya Nadella, she embraced the challenge. In 2022, Velastegui left Microsoft to launch a consulting firm and oversee product development at Aptiv, while also joining the NSF's AI committee in 2023. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship among women in a male-dominated industry and encourages women to claim their place in AI discussions, advocating for diversity in tech teams to avoid groupthink. Velastegui highlights the pressing need for diverse perspectives to combat biases in AI, which arise from a lack of representation among developers. She also raises concerns about the rapid pace of AI development without adequate ethical guidelines, advocating for a “human-centered” approach that prioritizes user well-being and allows for diverse input throughout the development process. Velastegui’s ongoing work focuses on addressing fundamental issues in AI to ensure broader representation and responsibility in its evolution.