We are excited to have two inspiring keynote talks!
Opening Keynote
Mutale Nkonde – AI for the People, Computing for a Better World
In this keynote, Mutale Nkonde explores how Black Queer theory has shaped the vision and practice of AI for the People, a Black female-led nonprofit that operates at the intersection of technology, racial justice, and global policy. Drawing from her organization’s work advocating for ethical and inclusive AI on international platforms, Nkonde challenges dominant narratives in tech by centering social impact over technological innovation. She argues that when we begin with the question, “Who is affected, and how?”, rather than “What can this technology do?”, we open up possibilities for more just and human-centered AI systems.
Nkonde further unpacks how marginalized perspectives—particularly those informed by Black feminist and queer thought—offer critical tools for identifying and addressing bias, surveillance, and discrimination embedded in algorithmic systems. By examining real-world policy efforts and advocacy strategies, she invites participants to reflect on the ways bias can be actively countered through inclusive design practices, equitable data governance, and values-driven development processes.
This keynote calls on designers, educators, and researchers to consider how they might incorporate these critical perspectives into their own product teams, classrooms, and labs—not only to mitigate harm, but to reimagine AI as a tool for collective liberation.
Mutale Nkonde (she/her) is a policy advisor, researcher, and founder of AI for the People, a nonprofit organization that works at the intersection of technology, society, and justice. Her work focuses on identifying and reducing algorithmic bias in the design, deployment, and governance of AI systems—particularly those that shape public life.
Nkonde first gained national attention as the lead advocate for the Algorithmic Accountability Act, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019, during her time as a fellow at Data & Society. Since then, she has led AI for the People in providing strategic advisory services to institutions such as the Biden-Harris White House, the United Nations, TikTok’s Content Moderation Advisory Board, and soon, the UK House of Commons. In 2025, her organization expanded into shareholder activism, using proxy votes to influence the ethical direction of major AI companies—securing an early victory in support of DEI policies at Apple.
Nkonde holds a BSc (Hons) in Sociology from Leeds Metropolitan University, a Master’s in American Studies from Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Cambridge. She has held fellowships at Stanford, Notre Dame, and is currently a Visiting Policy Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute. Her work bridges policy, design, and emerging technologies, inviting interdisciplinary collaboration to build more inclusive and accountable AI systems.
Closing Keynote
Masako Wakamiya – Designing Beyond Age: Rethinking Inclusion and Interaction in a 100-Year Life
As societies shift toward unprecedented longevity, HCI faces a compelling challenge and opportunity: How do we design technologies that not only accommodate—but empower—users across all stages of life?
In this keynote, Masako Wakamiya shares her lived experience as a late-blooming technologist, digital artist, and active community contributor. Through her journey—from learning computing in her 60s to developing an app for older adults in her 80s—she invites HCI professionals to reconsider assumptions about aging, usability, and agency. Wakamiya reminds us that while aging may bring changes in cognitive and physical abilities, it also deepens emotional insight, strengthens interpersonal connections, and enriches one’s capacity to contribute meaningfully. She challenges the field to move beyond accessibility toward true participation, where older users are not just end-users but co-creators and storytellers. Her insights underscore the need for age-inclusive design practices that not only adapt to changing needs but also celebrate what endures and grows with age—curiosity, creativity, empathy, and community. This talk is both a critique and a call to action—for more empathetic, flexible, and empowering human-computer interaction that supports lifelong learning, connection, and contribution across the lifespan.
Masako Wakamiya is a pioneering digital creator and a passionate advocate for age-inclusive technology. Now 90 years old, she entered the digital world in her 60s, developed her first iPhone app at age 81 to serve older users, and continues to speak globally on intergenerational design and inclusive innovation. She is a board member of Mellow Club, a social network for seniors, and advises the Japanese government’s “Digital Garden City” initiative. Wakamiya’s creative use of Excel as an artistic medium and her app “Hinadan” have attracted international attention, including from Apple CEO Tim Cook and Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs.
