Dr. Rana el Kaliouby
Dr. Rana co-founded Affectiva, an AI emotion-recognition software that analyzes human emotions and cognitive states through facial and vocal expressions.
Born in Egypt, Rana earned her Ph.D. in from Cambridge University, followed by a post-doctorate at MIT Media Lab.
Subsequently, Rana co-founded Affectiva, an AI emotion-recognition software that analyzed human emotions and cognitive states through facial and vocal expressions. The software gained the trust of 28% of Global Fortune 500 companies as clients and was subsequently acquired by Smart Eye in 2021.
Today, she serves as the Deputy CEO at Smart Eye, a company specializing in real-time eye-tracking systems that employ advanced multi-camera technology. SmartEye's clientele includes prestigious names such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and even NASA.
Rana's impressive achievements include:
- Recognition in The Boston Globe's 2023 Tech Power Players 50.
- A prominent spot on Forbes' Top 50 Women in Tech list.
- Notable inclusion in Fortune's 40 Under 40.
Rana is also the author of the best-selling book "Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology," which is a fantastic read and highly recommended!
In addition to her role at Smart Eye, Rana serves as an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and sits on the Board of Trustees of The American University in Cairo.
Here's one thing I really admire: Rana, widely regarded as a prominent figure in the global AI community, consistently advocates human-centered design of AI and technology —an ethos that deeply resonates with me!
As her website aptly states: "Rana believes in the power of human connection."
Last Updated: May 2024
