Meghan Markle and Prince Harry surprise NAACP-Archewell Award winner

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry surprised a “deserving” tech innovator with a six-figure honor.

Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, are surprised Dr. Joy Buolamwini with the NAACP-Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award on Thursday, March 14, where I stopped by to make the announcement in person.

A video shared via the Archewell website revealed the pair’s conversation with Buolamwini, 34, saying: “You guys treated me well” when they heard the news.

The clip begins with Meghan telling viewers that she and Harry are “encountering the most incredible leaders in technology,” adding, “We are faced with the difficult choice of choosing just one winner for the NAACP-Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award.”

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Buolamwini founded the Algorithmic Justice League – an organization dedicated to combating racism and sexist bias in software systems – and wrote Unmask AI, which examined the social impact of technology while simultaneously delving into initiatives aimed at averting AI-related risks.

Harry explained in the video that when Buolamwini was in college, she “discovered that facial recognition could not detect her dark skin and only worked when she put on a white mask.”

He added: ‘Since this discovery she has continued with it [become] one of the world’s most inspiring, passionate and impactful figures in AI today, at a time when her expertise [is] so desperately needed.”

Meghan noted that Buolamwini “is an inspiration and she deserves this honor and many more.”

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The computer scientist will receive a $100,000 grant to advance her research.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to join such an illustrious group of recipients for the Digital Civil Rights Award from the NAACP and The Archewell Foundation,” Buolamwini said in a statement on the Archewell website. “With the rapid spread of AI, it is more important than ever to ensure that these gatekeeper algorithms serve us all and do not hinder the civil rights of marginalized communities. This award will help the Algorithmic Justice League continue our work to prevent AI harm, connect the excrypted resources, and raise awareness of AI’s impact on society through our advocacy, art, and research.”

The annual award, introduced by Meghan and Harry in 2022, promotes emerging leaders committed to initiating transformative shifts and advocating for civil rights within the digital world. Nabiha SyedCEO of The Markup, a nonprofit news outlet focused on examining the social impacts of technology, received the award in 2023.

The Archewell Foundation, established after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020, is an organization “underpinned by the core belief that mental health and our collective well-being are of paramount importance,” according to its website. “We prioritize solutions that take families, youth, race and gender into account, and strive to find the joy and hope we all share for the future.”

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In addition to his Archewell commitments, Harry made a virtual appearance at the Diana Legacy Awards on Thursday, celebrating charitable efforts in honor of his late mother. Princess Diana.

“My mother would be incredibly proud of all the work you have done, I am incredibly proud and thank you for everything you do.” Harry told the winners in a video conference. ‘I’m sorry I can’t be there. I wish I could be there with you.”

The Diana Legacy Awards took place in London, but Harry delivered his message from California, where he and Meghan have lived since 2020. (Harry’s brother, Prince Williammade a personal visit to present trophies on Thursday.)

“The future is yours and you help shape that future,” the Duke of Sussex added. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, if that’s what you plan to do. Make sure you don’t get into too much trouble as you continue. And thank you so much for inspiring so many others while protecting my mother’s legacy. I really appreciate that.”