Welcome to the inaugural episode of AI Unhinged.

Executive Producer Angel Forte sits down with host Dr. Calvin D. Lawrence for a candid introduction to the man behind the mission and the experiences that shaped his perspective on artificial intelligence.

Dr. Lawrence takes us from earning a master’s degree in artificial intelligence in 1993 to becoming a Distinguished Engineer, corporate technology leader, author, and practitioner who has spent decades actually building AI systems.

But this conversation goes far beyond credentials.

Dr. Lawrence opens up about the experiences that changed the way he viewed the technology he helped create, including the realization that AI systems built without the right guardrails can create very different outcomes for Black communities and other vulnerable populations. He discusses the inspiration behind his book, Hidden in White Sight, the difficult decision to challenge an industry he had spent his career inside, and why walking away from corporate America allowed him to approach AI differently.

They also explore bias in facial recognition, AI in policing, the lack of Black voices in corporate technology spaces, the personal cost of speaking up, and why simply telling companies to stop building AI is not the answer.

For Dr. Lawrence, the mission is clear: AI is going to be built. The question is whether we are willing to build it better.

This episode introduces the purpose behind AI Unhinged: giving a voice to people affected by artificial intelligence, challenging those building it, and creating honest conversations about what happens when technology leaves the lab and enters our lives.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. LAWRENCE: calvindlawrence.com

PRODUCED BY: ORGANIZED MOVEMENTS