Digitising the World for Social Good
We asked our scholars to go back to the moment they packed their luggage in preparation for their journey to Oxford. But instead of clothes and books, we asked them to think about the stories, people, memories, hopes, and all immaterial things that they would put inside. We also wanted to know what they would probably like to add to their baggage when leaving Oxford. Find other stories in this series here.
Maya with other scholars during the orientation week
I have always been interested in the way we can impact our world for the better. When I was a child, I wanted to be an artist, and simply explore the globe with brush and color. Life brought me to the hi-tech sector from a relatively young age, specializing in cyber security technologies. Growing up in this industry for several years made me realize I am looking for a different technological avenue, which can be served for good, and not just for profit. I started exploring the field of AI Ethics and Transhumanism under the hope of finding social meaning to my profession. I discovered my true interest in AI for Good and was privileged to work in companies that promote diversity and inclusion using sophisticated algorithms. Academically, I got to collaborate with AI researchers in different scholastic disciplines, exploring the notion of AI Ethics in the public sector. But I still felt that something is missing. Having a profession in tech startups is not enough to promote social meaning under the continuous global challenges. And still, it is truly a hard decision to leave everything you know and love, to look after your dreams.
I knew that Oxford Internet Institute is the ideal place for me to grow as a practitioner and researcher. The workforce is still not as equipped to promote social good using emerging technologies. Especially, considering the implications of COVID-19 and that fact that unicorns pop up simply from exploiting one’s lack of digital orientation. However, I was still looking for a framework that promotes business for good globally. The moment I read about the Weidenfeld Hoffmann Leadership Scholarship; I knew this is time to start my true journey for meaningful tech globally. My baggage from Israel is full of amazing people, memories, technologies and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today and accompany me wherever I go. I hope to make my baggage as global as possible and be able to color technologies in a more social brush.
