Community-Centered AI
Methodological Innovations for Environmental Justice, Labor Equity, and Data Sovereignty
The Community-Centered AI Thought Summit addresses the urgent need to reimagine artificial intelligence development away from extractive, environmentally harmful practices toward community-controlled approaches that center environmental justice and data sovereignty.
Bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community members, this three-day convening will tackle AI's core problems — its massive carbon footprint, displacement of local expertise, and violations of community consent — through collaborative workshops and intervention-generating discussions.
With sponsorship from
Schedule
Click any session to expand details. Sessions are by invitation only unless marked Open to Public.
Participants & Facilitators
Invited Participants
Graduate Students
Community-Centered AI: A Methodological Framework
This white paper synthesizes the collective findings of the Thought Summit, offering a practical framework for researchers and practitioners who want to develop AI systems that serve rather than exploit the communities most affected by environmental and social inequities.
Travel & Logistics
Venues
Atkinson Hall, Cornell University
350 Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853
College of Computing and Information Science
Gates Hall, 107 Hoy Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853
Getting to Campus
Campus is approximately 40 minutes walk from downtown Ithaca. The walk to campus is uphill but scenic--take Cascadilla Trail for a beautiful gorge walk (rocky in places).
Take the TCAT #10 bus from Seneca St downtown. Fare is $1.50 (accepts cards). Ride to campus takes about 10 minutes. Get off near Goldwin Smith Hall or Sage Hall — both are a short walk from the Computing and Information Science Building; about a 10 min walk from Atkinson Hall.
Uber is available in Ithaca. Expect a 5–10 minute ride from downtown to campus.
If you want to drive to campus, the Peterson Lot on Tower Rd is nearest to Atkinson Hall and Hoy Garage is nearest to the CIS Building. You'll need to download and pay via the ParkMobile app and park in spaces designated for ParkMobile. Cost is around $10-12/day.
Hotel
120 S Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Located on the Ithaca Commons in downtown. A short bus ride to campus. If you're arriving at ITH Airport, you can call the hotel at 607.272.2222 to request a shuttle pickup on arrival. Check in: 4pm. Check out: 11am
Hotel valet parking: $30/day+tax
Self parking: $12/day, Green Street Garage (126 E Green St) or Cayuga Street Garage (235S N Cayuga St)
Other Locations
620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Dinner on Sunday evening, 5:30-7:30pm.
Join us for pizza and drinks if you are in town!
321 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Summit dinner & drinks venue - Monday, May 18, 6-8pm
408 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Summit dinner and drinks venue - Tuesday, May 19, 6:30-8:30pm
Breakfast will be available at our summit venue from 8-9am each day.
If you're looking for an earlier breakfast or coffee, Monks at the Marriott, Collegetown Bagels, Press Cafe, Bank Coffee, and Paris Baguette are nearby options.
Gimme Coffee in Gates Hall on campus is also open from 8am-4pm.