Women in AI
Gitanjali Rao
Young Inventor & STEM Advocate
Gitanjali Rao is an inventor, scientist, and STEM advocate who was named TIME's first-ever Kid of the Year in 2020 at the age of 15. Now a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she has developed multiple technology solutions addressing real-world problems using AI, data science, and engineering.
Her inventions include Tethys, a device that detects lead contamination in drinking water using carbon nanotube sensors (inspired by the Flint water crisis); Kindly, an anti-cyberbullying app and Chrome extension that uses AI and natural language processing to detect bullying in text; and Epione, a diagnostic tool for early detection of prescription opioid addiction.
Rao has been recognized by numerous organizations, including Forbes 30 Under 30, the EPA, and the Society of Women Engineers. She has spoken at the United Nations and conducted STEM workshops for over 80,000 students globally. She is the author of 'A Young Innovator's Guide to STEM.'
