Emily M. Bender

Emily M. Bender is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she directs the Computational Linguistics Laboratory. She is widely recognized as a leading voice in AI ethics and the responsible development of language technology. Bender co-authored the groundbreaking 2021 paper "On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots," which fundamentally shaped conversations about large language models and their limitations.

This work introduced the now-ubiquitous term "stochastic parrots" to describe language models that generate statistically plausible text without genuine understanding. Her research emphasizes the importance of linguistic and social context in AI development, arguing for greater transparency and accountability in the field. Bender's rigorous approach has challenged industry assumptions about AI capabilities and safety. She is also co-author of "The AI Con," published by Harper in 2025 with Alex Hanna, which provides a critical examination of artificial intelligence hype and reality.

Through her scholarship, teaching, and public engagement, Bender advocates for interdisciplinary approaches to AI ethics that center human values and linguistic diversity. Her work continues to influence policy discussions and research priorities in artificial intelligence and natural language processing.