Firefighting has been a big part of my life. My father and grandfather both served the City of San Diego as firefighters since the age of 18. Altogether, the Barnes family has been protecting the city for over 70 years. I saw my father’s commitment to firefighting as more than a job; it was an obligation, a responsibility. Although I will never be a firefighter, I still like to think I am one at heart. This has always motivated me to try and better the lives of those around me by pursuing and advancing math and science.
I was lucky enough to spend the last few years in the heart of Silicon Valley working on AI research and development at Stanford and an autonomous vehicle start-up. During that time, I came to believe in the transformative power of technology, especially AI. And yet, I found brilliant researchers and groundbreaking research caught in a web of regulatory uncertainty - failing to ensure safety and acting as a barrier to innovation. Through my TechCongress Fellowship, I seek to take the first step in addressing these problems. My goal is to drive effective policy to speed the development and adoption of safe AI.