[2] She founded the Algorithmic Justice League (AJL), an organization that works to challenge bias in decision-making software, using art, advocacy, and research to highlight the social implications and harms of artificial intelligence (AI).

In a podcast episode she recorded on Brené Brown's show "Dare to Lead", she recalls completing her AP Physics homework between basketball break times.

While working on a facial-recognition-based art project at the MIT Media Lab, she discovered that commercial AI systems could not consistently detect her face due to her darker skin.

This frustration inspired her landmark research project Gender Shades, which rigorously evaluated facial analysis systems from IBM, Microsoft, and Face++.

[43] Realizing that these failures stemmed from data imbalances, Buolamwini introduced the Pilot Parliaments Benchmark, a diverse dataset designed to address the lack of representation in typical AI training sets, which were composed of over 75% male and 80% lighter-skinned faces.

However, Buolamwini has noted that improved technical accuracy alone does not eliminate risks of potential misuse in areas such as racial profiling, surveillance, and hiring decisions.

[43] To address these concerns, Buolamwini co-founded the Safe Face Pledge, encouraging tech companies to adopt ethical AI practices.

The pledge prohibits weaponizing facial recognition, bans lawless police use, and demands transparency in government surveillance applications.

Her advocacy emphasizes that achieving fairness in AI development requires a multi-faceted approach, including regulatory frameworks and collaborative efforts.

AJL has also encouraged public engagement through interactive campaigns, exhibitions, and educational initiatives, ensuring a broad audience is informed about the impact of biased algorithms on gender equity.

AJL conducts workshops and provides resources aimed at educating the public and tech community about AI biases, with a focus on empowering underrepresented genders to engage with and challenge these systems.

Some key members of the Algorithmic Justice League include Rachel Fagen, the Chief of Staff, who focuses on organizational development and building connections to promote equitable and accountable AI.

The Algorithm Justice League works with various groups, including CORE funders, advisory committees, and research collaborators, to enhance transparency and accountability in AI systems, ensuring that its advocacy efforts remain impactful and inclusive.

Buolamwini has influenced policy discussions to address gender discrimination in AI applications, advocating for regulations that ensure fairness in AI-powered decision-making systems.

[49] Joy Buolamwini, through the Algorithmic Justice League (AJL), has been instrumental in advocating for the inclusion and support of women, transgender, and non-binary individuals in the technology sector.

[54] They have also written about what they regard as harmful gender stereotypes perpetuated by the voice recognition systems in Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft Cortana.

[55] While her methodology and results have faced criticism from industries like Amazon, she explained in her TED talk how she addressed the 'coded gaze' by highlighting its neglect of the intersection between “social impact, technology, and inclusion.

[60] Coded Bias is a documentary film directed by Shalini Kantayya that features Buolamwini’s research about AI inaccuracies in facial recognition technology and automated assessment software.

[61][46] It focuses on what the film's creators regard as a lack of regulation of facial recognition tools sold by IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, and which they say perpetuates racial and gender bias.

The film featured Weapons of Math Destruction author Cathy O'Neill and members of Big Brother Watch in London, including Silkie Carlo.

[62] Projects conducted by Algorithmic Justice League have been exhibited at art institutions including the Barbican Centre in London, UK, and Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria.

[69] The contest, sponsored by PepsiCo and 21st Century Fox, was intended to "help uncover the next generation of female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math,"[70] and attracted 7,300 submissions from young women across the United States.