Name: Stephanie Dinkins
Role:
Transdisciplinary Artist, Educator, and AI Innovator.
Net Worth:
As of March 2025, Stephanie Dinkins’ net worth is estimated at $2 million.
Profile Overview:
Stephanie Dinkins is an American transdisciplinary artist and educator whose work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), race, gender, and history. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Dinkins is a pioneer in using AI to address societal inequities and foster inclusive technological ecosystems. Her projects, such as Conversations with Bina48 and Not the Only One, have earned her international recognition for their innovative approach to storytelling and AI ethics. A recipient of the LG Guggenheim Award and named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI (2023), Dinkins is a leading voice in the dialogue about equitable AI development.
Bio:
Stephanie Dinkins was born in 1964 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and raised in Staten Island, New York. She credits her grandmother’s community gardening as an early influence on her understanding of art as a social practice. Dinkins earned an MFA in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1997 and completed the Whitney Independent Study Program in 1998.
Dinkins’ artistic journey began with photography but evolved into transmedia art that incorporates emerging technologies like AI. Her work often involves collaboration with communities of color to create culturally attuned AI systems that reflect diverse perspectives. Projects such as Conversations with Bina48, where she interacts with a humanoid robot designed to resemble a Black woman, and Not the Only One, an AI trained on three generations of her family’s oral history, exemplify her commitment to using technology for storytelling and social equity.
Dinkins is also an educator, holding the Kusama Endowed Chair in Art at Stony Brook University. She has participated in numerous fellowships and residencies, including the Soros Equality Fellowship and Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
Stephanie Dinkins’ Role in Artificial Intelligence:
Stephanie Dinkins uses AI as a medium to address systemic bias and foster inclusivity. Her project Not the Only One trains an AI on three generations of her family’s stories to explore how cultural roots can shape technological narratives. Through this work, she challenges the homogeneity of mainstream AI systems while advocating for data sovereignty and ethical AI practices.
Dinkins also runs an art and tech incubator called AI.Assembly, which encourages participation from underrepresented communities in shaping AI technologies. She emphasizes that “our stories are our algorithms,” advocating for collaborative approaches to building equitable technological ecosystems.
Nationality:
American
Age:
61 years old (as of March 21, 2025).
Educational Qualification:
- Bachelor’s Degree: General Studies Certificate in Photography from the International Center of Photography School (1995).
- Master’s Degree: MFA in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art (1997).
- Independent Study: Whitney Independent Study Program (1998).
Sources of Wealth:
- Art Installations: Projects like Conversations with Bina48 and Not the Only One.
- Awards & Fellowships: Recipient of the LG Guggenheim Award ($100,000) and other prestigious fellowships.
- Teaching: Kusama Endowed Chair at Stony Brook University.
- Speaking Engagements: Featured at global conferences on AI ethics and inclusivity.
- Community Initiatives: Founder of AI.Assembly incubator for equitable tech development.
Random Fact:
Stephanie Dinkins describes her grandmother’s garden as her first encounter with art as a community practice—a philosophy that continues to inform her work today.
Stephanie Dinkins’ career reflects her dedication to merging art with technology to promote equity and inclusivity. Her groundbreaking projects continue to shape global conversations about ethical AI development and its societal impact.
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