Mozilla’s Rise25 Awards are back for another inspiring year and now is your chance to nominate the people you believe are making a meaningful impact in your online community. Mozilla will be honoring 25 people who are leading that next wave of AI — who are using philanthropy, collective power, and the principles of open source to make sure the future of Ai is responsible, trustworthy, inclusive and centered around human dignity. 2024’s Awards will feature familiar categories from last year’s, but with a special emphasis on trustworthy AI.
2023 was indeed the year of AI, and as more people adopt it, we know it is a technology that will continue to impact our culture and society, act as a catalyst for innovation and creation, and be a medium to engage people from all walks of life in conversations thanks to its growing ubiquity in our everyday lives.
Mozilla is rising to the challenge through several key efforts: supporting AI builders as they take on the tech giants, introducing our own AI products in Firefox and beyond, and advocating for policies that prioritize human interest over corporate agendas. By recognizing and celebrating the people who are shaping the web today, we are contributing to a positive future for all. We know we cannot do this alone: At Mozilla, we believe the most groundbreaking innovations emerge when people from diverse backgrounds unite to collaborate and openly trade ideas.
Five winners will be selected from each of the below categories, to make up our 2024 Rise25 cohort:
Advocates – Guiding AI towards a responsible future
These are the policymakers, activists, and thinkers ensuring AI is developed ethically, inclusively, and transparently. This category also includes those who are adept at translating complex AI concepts for the broader public — including journalists, content creators, and cultural commentators. They champion digital rights and accessible AI, striving to make AI a force for societal good.
Builders – Developing AI through ethical innovation
They are the architects of trustworthy AI, including engineers and data scientists dedicated to developing AI’s open-source language infrastructure. They focus on technical proficiency and responsible and ethical construction. Their work ensures AI is secure, accessible, and reliable, aiming to create tools that empower and advance society.
Artists – Reimagining AI’s creative potential
They transcend traditional AI applications, like synthesizing visuals or using large language models. Their projects, whether interactive websites, films, or digital media, challenge our perceptions and demonstrate how AI can amplify and empower human creativity. Their work provokes thought and offers fresh perspectives on the intersection of AI and art.
Entrepreneurs – Fueling AI’s evolution with visionary ventures
These daring individuals are transforming imaginative ideas into reality. They’re crafting businesses and solutions with AI to meet societal needs, improve everyday life and forge new technological paths. They embody innovation, steering startups and projects with a commitment to ethical standards, inclusiveness and enhancing human welfare through technology.
Change Agents – Cultivating inclusive AI
They are challengers that lead the way in diversifying AI, bringing varied community voices into tech. They focus on inclusivity in AI development, ensuring technology serves and represents everyone, especially those historically excluded from the tech narrative. They are community leaders, corporate leaders, activists and outside-the-box thinkers finding ways to amplify the impacts of AI for marginalized communities. Their work fosters an AI environment of equality and empowerment.
This year’s awards build upon the success of last year’s programming and community event in Berlin, which brought to life what a future trustworthy Internet could look like. Last year’s event crowned trailblazers and visionaries across five distinct categories: Builders, Activists, Artists, Creators, and Advocates. (Psst! Stay tuned as we unveil their inspiring stories in a video series airing across Mozilla channels throughout the year, leading up to the 2024 Rise25 Awards!)
Why hold the event in Dublin?
Ireland’s history of questioning norms and cultivating independent thought resonates deeply with Mozilla’s mission and our ethos of challenging the default. This tradition carries through to today: Ireland boasts one of the world’s most vibrant tech sectors, and Dublin is its beating heart. With a rich cultural heritage, renowned for its impactful storytelling through literature, music, theater, and film, Dublin provides the perfect setting to explore diverse perspectives and spark creative exchange at Rise25.
So join them as they honor the innovators, advocates, entrepreneurs, and communities who are working to build a happier, healthier web. Click here to submit your nomination today!