Anna Makanju

Anna Adeola Makanju (born 1976 ) is an American lawyer, public policy professional, and advocate for AI regulation. She is currently vice president of global impact at OpenAI. She has worked in policy affairs for nearly two decades, including U.S. government roles at the Department of Defense, State Department, and National Security Council. She also previously worked in public policy positions at Facebook and SpaceX.

Early life and education Anna Makanju was born in Russia to a Ukrainian mother and a Nigerian father. Her father had come to Russia on a Soviet scholarship to study medicine; while in Russia, Makanju's father met her mother, who was an engineer. Her parents separated when she was still a child, but Makanju spent a considerable part of her early childhood in St. Petersburg.

After her mother remarried, Makanju moved frequently, residing in Lagos, Nigeria, Germany, Arizona, and Kuwait. The 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait coincided with Makanju's time there, and she was sent away to live with her maternal grandparents in Ukraine. During the invasion, her stepfather was briefly taken hostage by Iraqi forces. After he was released, Makanju reunited with her mother and stepfather in Texas, where she remained to complete her high school education.

Career After earning her J.D. in 2004, Makanju chose to clerk for the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, at the Hague. Returning to the U.S., she clerked for Judge Theodore McKee of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, and was then employed in the international arbitration group at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, in . Makanju (left) at a 2023 meeting of AI executives with President Joe Biden and other government personnel at the White House. Her growing interest in the societal impact of artificial intelligence led her to join OpenAI. Initially serving as vice president of global affairs, Makanju worked to shape the organization's engagement with international bodies.

Makanju is an advocate for AI legislation, actively working to address the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Her focus is to ensure AI benefits humanity broadly and equitably, mitigating potential risks and maximizing positive societal impact. She was named to the Inaugural , which highlights influential women shaping the future of artificial intelligence.