Key Takeaways
- • The Doris Duke Foundation, a $2 billion foundation, hired Hong Qu as its chief technology officer to strengthen the systems, tools and practices used for external and internal operations.
- • Qu will lead the foundation's adoption of new technologies, with particular focus on artificial intelligence and its effective and responsible use.
- • Qu was among the first engineers at YouTube when it was a startup, where he designed key features including the homepage, channels and video-sharing tools, according to the foundation.
- • Qu is an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School and a board member of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Summary
Doris Duke Foundation President and CEO Sam Gill said in a statement that the world is living through "one of the most consequential technology revolutions in human history." Gill praised Qu's "sharp technical acumen combined with his profound facility with the ethics of technology systems," describing him as an ideal leader in a period of tremendous change.
According to the foundation, Qu was among the first engineers at YouTube when it was still a startup, where he designed key features including the platform's homepage, channels and video-sharing tools. Qu is currently an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of public policy, where he teaches courses on data visualization and emerging technologies, focusing on how data, networks and digital tools influence decisionmaking and political communication. He also serves on the board of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Qu's writing and research have addressed the ethical implications of AI, including the use of automated systems in employment and hiring, as well as the AI-related responsibilities of technology firms, policymakers and civic institutions. In a statement, Qu said, "Technology is never deterministic; it reflects the values and power structure in society in which it is built." He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the School of Information at the University of California, Berkeley.
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