How Stanford HAI Defines Human-Centered AI with Executive Director Russell Wald

Russell Wald is a recognized leader in AI governance and policy. Wald has spent over a decade at the intersection of technology, society, and governance focused on ensuring that transformative technologies are developed and deployed responsibly to improve the human condition. Wald is at the forefront of AI policy, balancing innovation, security, and human-centered values in a rapidly evolving landscape. As Executive Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Wald leads HAI’s efforts to bridge academia, public policy, and civil society. Wald oversees HAI’s research, education, and outreach missions, guiding initiatives that foster collaboration, innovation, and thoughtful AI governance. Wald is the co-author of various publications on AI including, Building a National AI Research Resource (2021), Enhancing International Cooperation in AI Research: The Case for a Multilateral AI Research Institute (2022), The Centrality of Data and Compute for AI Innovation: A Blueprint for a National Research Cloud (2022, Notre Dame Journal of Emerging Technologies). Currently, he is part of a HAI seed grant research project titled, Addicted by Design: An Investigation of How AI-fueled Digital Media Platforms Contribute to Addictive Consumption. Additionally, he serves as a member of the AI Index Steering Committee hosted by HAI. With over a decade at Stanford, Wald has strengthened the bridge between academia and policymakers. Wald managed national security and government affairs at the Hoover Institution, working with leading scholars on tech policy. He also co-founded Stanford’s Congressional Tech Policy Boot Camp, educating lawmakers on emerging technologies, and has led key initiatives advancing AI’s societal impact. Beyond Stanford, Wald is a Visiting Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, and a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a degree from UCLA in Political Science and Global Studies.