Dr. Jonnie Penn

Biography

Jonnie Penn is an educator, broadcaster, and public speaker, known for theorizing the social implications of information technologies. He is a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University and an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Cambridge, where he teaches an award-winning course on AI Ethics and Society. As a Research Fellow at St. Edmund’s College and a Senior Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for Future Intelligence, he has contributed to significant research projects including the Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar on the histories of artificial intelligence. Jonnie’s work focuses on the deep historical relationships among efficiency, authority, history, philosophy, and computer science, with a specific interest in complex systems and technocracy, particularly in the realm of AI Ethics. He has engaged with institutions such as the United Nations and the European Parliament, presenting on challenges related to intelligent systems. Notably, he co-developed 'WeClock,' a participatory action research toolset aimed at monitoring wage theft, and has been actively involved in leading academic conferences related to his research interests. Jonnie also holds impressive degrees from the University of Cambridge and McGill University and has pioneered grassroots projects like 'The Buried Life,' which seeks to help individuals achieve their dreams against the backdrop of personal loss.

Research Interests