Becca Ricks (she/her) is a researcher, programmer, and artist exploring the design of AI systems. She explores how people interact with algorithms, with a focus on user control and agency.

Most recently, Becca was the Head of Open Source Research at Mozilla Foundation, where she explored how users engage in forms of resistance and exercise control over their experiences online.

Becca was named as one of 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics and served on steering committees for the Partnership on AI’s ABOUT ML project and Ford Foundation’s Public Interest Technology network. She completed a 2017-2018 technical fellowship at Human Rights Watch. She holds a master’s degree from NYU-ITP, where her research explored algorithmic categorization.

As a designer and artist, Becca’s projects include playful websites, generative texts, textiles knitted on a hacked knitting machine, 3D models made with experimental imaging techniques, and interactive installations. Her practice is rooted in material and digital experimentation. Becca is a co-founder of tendernet, an art/tech collective exploring AI futures through speculative design workshops.

Becca has spoken at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center, MIT, the Toronto Museum of Contemporary Art, the Walker Art Center, RISD, and a number of other venues. Her work has been covered by the New York Times, Washington Post, and WIRED.

Get in touch ➰ baricks (at) protonmail.com.
CV available upon request.
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