Each morning, Nia Jetter begins her day not by coding or designing satellites but by uploading short videos. Each clip answers a fundamental question about artificial intelligence in under ten minutes. These videos introduce students who have never seen a machine learn to basic concepts — a first step for those with no access to technology or its leaders. Jetter’s background is one of distinction: she worked at NASA, Boeing, Raytheon, and held a top position at Amazon’s robotics AI division. She helped build technologies that power today’s world, but her current mission is to ensure AI and tech progress benefit the most overlooked communities globally.
From rockets to classrooms
Jetter’s childhood in New Jersey was shaped by curiosity and determination. Her grandfather gave her coins for batteries instead of candy. Her mother, a special education teacher, taught her to simplify complex topics. These early lessons laid the foundation for a career shaping satellite systems and advancing GPS technology. Jetter’s father helped her gather information at the library, and her mother’s teaching style taught her to connect with people intimidated by science. These formative experiences helped her build a successful career in engineering and inspired her to make science and technology accessible to all.
At 48, she recognized a problem no code could fix. “AI isn’t just a tool,” she said. “It’s a choice. If the people designing it don’t represent the world, we’re already behind.” Jetter had reached the top of her field, including a senior principal technologist role at Amazon in robotics AI. But she became increasingly aware that the systems she helped build were shaped by a narrow set of perspectives. She realized the technologies she contributed to might not reflect the needs of a broad public. She believed an inclusive AI future required a shift in how knowledge and access were distributed.
The 1,000-student experiment
Through thinqueBytes, Jetter created bite-sized AI videos. She calls it an anti-privilege strategy. The nonprofit, built over five years and later adopted by the Distinguished Minds Institute, has trained over 1,000 students across four continents. The approach is simple but powerful: short, engaging videos called “bytes” that break down complex ideas into digestible parts. Each one answers a basic question — like “What is AI?” or “Should I fear it?” — to spark curiosity and build confidence. Jetter believes understanding emerging technologies should be a right, not a privilege — a belief rooted in her own challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field.
Jetter has experienced the barriers faced by women in engineering, recalling a school where men outnumbered women. That experience reinforced her belief in diversity and inclusion. Without varied voices, she argues, AI technologies will reflect a limited and biased worldview. For her, it's more than education — it's about reshaping the future of tech to ensure it includes all perspectives.
The Geneva reckoning
In July, AI governance moved into global focus. Jetter attended the UN’s first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, an event with every country represented. She highlighted a critical issue: nearly 2.2 billion people — one in four globally — remain offline. Without access to the digital world, many will miss out on AI’s benefits. Jetter stressed the need for inclusivity in AI policy-making to ensure diverse perspectives shape the future.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the event with a powerful message: AI, if used and shared responsibly, could be the twenty-first century's great equalizer, compressing decades of development into years. But he warned of the dangers of inaction. Without proper governance, AI could deepen inequalities. Jetter agrees. She likens AI to a hammer — it can build or destroy depending on who holds it. For her, governance is not a barrier but a compass to guide responsible development.
Her solution starts with the basics — building a foundation of knowledge for students in disconnected areas through short educational videos. At the AI for Good Global Summit, the focus shifted to practical applications, like early cancer detection and internet access for remote schools. These examples show AI’s potential to benefit all. Jetter argues that if decision-makers don’t reflect global diversity, the outcomes will be incomplete and biased.
Jetter still has the skills for her old job. But when she thinks about AI now, it’s not code. It’s a question — for whom? And what happens when the connection is lost? She remains committed to ensuring technology serves humanity. Her work with thinqueBytes and her global advocacy for inclusive AI governance reflect that mission. She wants to create a future where technology is a right, not a privilege — and where the benefits of AI are shared by all.
