Terah Lyons

Terah Lyons
Born	Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard University, University of Cambridge
Occupation(s)	Technology policy expert, AI executive
Years active	2012–present
Known for	Executive director of the Partnership on AI; policy advisor to U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith; Managing Director and Global Head of AI Policy at JPMorgan Chase

Terah Lyons is acknowledged for her significant impact on artificial intelligence and technology policy development. She held the position of executive director at the Partnership on AI and acted as a policy advisor to U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith during President Barack Obama's tenure at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Education and early career

Originating from Fort Collins, Colorado, Lyons completed her undergraduate studies in Social Studies at Harvard University in 2014, with an emphasis on Network Theory and Complex Systems. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious Thouron Award to pursue studies at the University of Cambridge. While at Harvard, she contributed as a research analyst under David Gergen at the Kennedy School of Government Center for Public Policy. Her senior thesis explored "Social Networks and Shibboleths: Gender Diversity and Stratification in Structures of Elite Corporate Leadership." Following her graduation, Lyons participated as a Fellow at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Public service career

In 2015, Lyons became part of President Barack Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy, initially working alongside Science Advisor John Holdren, and subsequently supporting United States Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith in 2016. Her responsibilities encompassed areas such as machine intelligence, including AI, robotics, and intelligent transportation systems.

She served as co-director for The White House Future of Artificial Intelligence Initiative, which brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and international sectors to influence national AI strategy. This initiative resulted in the publication Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence, a report that identified opportunities, challenges, and policy recommendations aimed at leveraging AI for societal benefit, enhancing governmental functions, regulating technologies like automated vehicles, and cultivating a diverse AI talent pool. The report was informed by five public workshops and 161 submitted public comments.

Lyons also played a role in producing the December 2016 report Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Economy, which examined AI’s profound effects on the U.S. economy. The document outlined five principal policy priorities, including adapting workforce skills and managing employment transitions as automation displaces some jobs while generating new roles.

Since 2024, Lyons has been serving as Managing Director and Global Head of AI Policy at JPMorgan Chase.

The Partnership on AI

In 2017, Lyons was appointed to lead the Partnership on AI, a collaborative research and policy entity established by companies such as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. This nonprofit organization concentrates on AI domains like machine perception, learning algorithms, and automated reasoning. Its mission includes establishing best practices for AI research and development, enhancing public comprehension, encouraging inclusive participation, and identifying future initiatives to promote AI’s societal benefits. Lyons has provided testimony before the House Oversight Committee Subcommittee on Information Technology to highlight AI’s potential and advocate for the Partnership’s objectives.

During her tenure as executive director, Lyons prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion within the AI sector workforce. In 2018, she addressed The New York Times New Work Summit emphasizing the urgent necessity for inclusivity in computer science and AI disciplines. Additionally, she contributes to the Center for a New American Security's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Security, focusing on AI’s consequences for national security.

In 2022, Lyons participated as a Steering Committee Member for Stanford University's AI Index Report. Collaborating with organizations including Google, OpenAI, and Open Philanthropy, this report evaluates advancements in AI across research, development, ethics, education, policy frameworks, and governance using data sourced from academic institutions, private enterprises, nonprofit organizations, alongside original analyses.

Awards and Recognition

• Recipient of the Thouron Prize in 2012
• Awarded the Mozilla Technology Policy Fellowship in 2017
• Inducted into the Women in AI Ethics Hall of Fame in 2021