The American AI researcher, consultant and manager Meredith Whittaker was awarded this year's Helmut Schmidt Future Prize. She is president of the non-profit Signal Foundation, responsible for the messenger service of the same name, which is designed to ensure the security of its users.

Since 2022, the award has celebrated innovative achievements in the fields of democracy, society and technology. Following in the footsteps of Ugandan activist and social entrepreneur Vanessa Nakate and Finnish politician Sanna Marin, technology advocate Meredith Whittaker was honored in this third year.

"Artificial intelligence is more than ever an issue for humanity, and the question of how to develop it in a humane and public welfare-orientated way is of the utmost relevance. If anyone can help us move forward, it is Meredith Whittaker.

Whether as a rebellious Google developer, a professor at New York University or a government advisor, she is committed to the responsible and humane development of AI. This combination is enough for the jury of the Helmut Schmidt Future Prize to honour Meredith Whittaker this year and thus also set an example: In innovation oriented towards the common good, the central values of the prize 'Democracy, Society, Technology' come together, and this is almost paradigmatic in the context of the rapid development of AI", stated the jury in explaining its decision.

The jury for the Helmut Schmidt Future Prize this year was composed of Jury Chairman Uwe Jean Heuser, Alexander Birken, Antje Boetius, Francesca Bria, Sanna Marin, Alaa Murabit, Vanessa Nakate, Erck Rickmers and Meik Woyke.