Name: Manu Chopra
Role:
Co-founder and CEO of Karya; AI Entrepreneur and Social Innovator.
Net Worth:
As of March 2025, Manu Chopra’s net worth is estimated at $50 million.
Profile Overview:
Manu Chopra is an Indian-American entrepreneur and social innovator dedicated to using artificial intelligence (AI) to empower marginalized communities. As the co-founder and CEO of Karya, a nonprofit data cooperative, Chopra has transformed the lives of thousands of rural Indians by providing dignified digital work opportunities. His work focuses on bridging the economic divide by enabling communities to participate in data annotation tasks that train AI systems. Recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023), Chopra’s efforts have redefined how technology can be leveraged for social impact.
Bio:
Born in 1996, Manu Chopra grew up in poverty in Shakur Basti, Delhi, before winning a scholarship to Stanford University. He graduated summa cum laude in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, specializing in artificial intelligence. While at Stanford, he co-founded CS+Social Good, the university’s first student group focused on using technology for societal impact.
Chopra began his career working on AI projects that exposed him to the exploitative conditions faced by data workers in the Global South. This experience inspired him to launch Karya in 2020. Karya provides rural Indians with opportunities to contribute to AI development through tasks such as speech dataset generation and image annotation. Workers earn at least $5 per hour—20 times the Indian minimum wage—and receive royalties when their data is licensed for use, creating sustainable income streams.
Through Karya, Chopra has impacted over 100,000 individuals across India, helping them earn ₹65 million collectively while fostering economic security and self-worth. His vision for redistributing wealth through ethical AI practices continues to inspire global conversations about technology and equity.
Manu Chopra’s Role in Artificial Intelligence:
Manu Chopra has pioneered a model of ethical AI development that prioritizes fairness and inclusivity. At Karya, he oversees initiatives that collect datasets in underrepresented Indian languages like Marathi and Tamil. These datasets are used to train language models that are equitable and culturally attuned.
Chopra’s approach challenges traditional AI practices by ensuring workers are paid fairly and benefit from the value their contributions generate. His emphasis on ethical data usage has positioned Karya as a leader in socially responsible AI development.
Nationality:
Indian-American
Age:
29 years old (as of March 21, 2025).
Educational Qualification:
- High School: Scholarship recipient from Shakur Basti, Delhi.
- Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science from Stanford University (summa cum laude, 2017).
Sources of Wealth:
- Karya: Co-founder and CEO; nonprofit valued for its transformative impact on rural livelihoods.
- AI Development: Contributions to ethical data annotation practices.
- Speaking Engagements & Recognition: Named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023) and featured on the cover of TIME.
- Royalties: Sustainable income model enabling workers to earn passive income from licensed datasets.
- Awards & Fellowships: Echoing Green Fellow; Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Social Entrepreneur.
Random Fact:
Manu Chopra’s vision for Karya was inspired during a visit to a data company in Mumbai where workers earned just $0.40 per hour despite generating valuable datasets.
Manu Chopra’s career exemplifies his commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for empowerment and equity. His leadership at Karya continues to redefine how AI can serve marginalized communities globally while fostering sustainable development.
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