Verity harding
One of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in AI
About
"Few people understand the intersection between emerging technology and democracy better than Verity Harding."
- TIME"Few have had the chance to think longer and harder about AI's impact on society than Verity Harding"
- POLITICOVerity Harding is a globally recognised leader at the intersection of technology, politics and public policy. She is Founder of Formation Advisory Ltd, a bespoke technology consultancy firm, and Director of the AI & Geopolitics Project at Cambridge University's Bennett Institute for Public Policy. Her debut book ‘AI Needs You’ was published by Princeton University Press in March 2024.
James Manyika
SVP, Tech & Society
Google-Alphabet
The technology, policy and ethical landscape of AI has transformed over the past few years and Verity's work has played a significant role in that. I have worked with her on two of the formative institutions she co-founded - the Partnership on AI and DeepMind Ethics & Society - where her exceptional intellect, judgement and foresight combined with leadership and communication skills helped bring intangible concepts to life. She is an important and much-needed leader in the field of technology and society today.
Rachel Whetstone
Chief Communications Officer Netflix
I have known Verity for over a decade, and worked directly with her for five years. She's exceptionally smart (in the best way) on technology policy issues because she can not only see the argument from multiple angles (consumers, the business, the media and policymakers), she also has that rare ability to think strategically and get into the details/make things happen.
One of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in AI, Harding has been at the centre of the debate on technology and politics for over a decade, from Downing Street to Davos, the G7 to Google. She began her career as a political adviser to the then-Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Nick Clegg. While working for His Majesty's Government she helped to enact the country's first equal marriage act, while also advising on matters of national security and human rights. Harding joined Google in 2013, leading security policy in Europe and covering serious issues from the use of YouTube by terrorist groups like ISIS to the campaign's of the Reform Government Surveillance coalition, which brought about reform in lawful data-sharing between US and UK law enforcement. From 2016, as DeepMind's first Global Head of Policy, Harding co-founded the independent non-profit organisation the Partnership on AI, as well as the DeepMind's in-house policy, ethics and social science research teams. She also served on the OECD's Network of AI Experts, which produced the first set of AI Principles signed by the G20. In her spare time, Harding serves on the Cabinet Office Digital Advisory Board, a group of independent experts recruited to provide insight on digital, data, and technology to the UK government. She is also a Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and Chair of the Board for Girls Who Code UK.
"AI Needs You"
“A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the defining technology of our era, from a unique author who has had a front row seat in AI’s development.”
Katie Prescott, technology business editor, The Times
media
formation advisory
Founded by Verity Harding, Formation Advisory Ltd is a bespoke consultancy company offering strategic advice to organisations grappling with the challenges and opportunities at the cutting edge of AI innovation.
To enquire about consultancy services please use the contact form below.
Mike Belinsky, Director
Schmidt Futures
"Formation Advisory provided the AI2050 program at Schmidt Futures with valuable insight into the fast-paced and complex dynamics of the AI policy landscape, helped frame and think through key strategic issues for the program, and played a pivotal role as an advisor to the program in its inaugural year."
Tim Colborne, Strategic Adviser
Meta
“Verity is a deep subject matter expert. Formation Adisory's guidance to Meta’s Policy leadership, including a deep dive into the development of AI ethics over recent decades, helped us to ground our understanding of today’s debates about Artificial General Intelligence and develop impactful messaging for policy audiences.”
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