Devaki Raj

Devaki Raj is the Chief Digital and AI Officer in the Strategy Office at Saab, Inc., a position she assumed following the acquisition of her company, CrowdAI, by Saab. She was born and raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, and has a strong academic background, having completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Biological Sciences and Statistics at the University of Oxford.

Career Highlights

• CrowdAI: Raj co-founded CrowdAI in 2016, a no-code computer vision platform that gained recognition for its innovative approach to AI. Under her leadership, CrowdAI was honored on Forbes’ 2021 AI 50 list as one of America's Most Promising AI Companies. The platform has been utilized by various government agencies, including the Department of Defense, for tasks such as wildfire mapping and disaster response.13
• Previous Experience: Before founding CrowdAI, Raj worked at Google on several projects related to Maps and Energy. Her experience also includes collaborating with U.S. government entities on AI applications in national security.23

Contributions and Recognition

Raj has been actively involved in discussions surrounding AI policy and procurement. She testified before the U.S. Senate on AI procurement challenges in September 2023, emphasizing the need for effective government contracts that support ongoing AI development rather than one-off purchases.3 Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including:

• VentureBeat's 2022 Women in AI Entrepreneur Award
• Recognition as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 honorees
• Participation in high-profile forums such as Senator Chuck Schumer's AI Executive Forum.13

Current Role at Saab

In her role at Saab, Raj focuses on integrating AI technologies into defense applications, leveraging her expertise to improve operational capabilities through innovative solutions. She emphasizes user empathy and real-world testing in AI development to ensure that solutions are effective and mission-ready.23

Community Involvement

Raj is also active in community service and advisory roles, including serving on The National Geospatial Advisory Committee and being a board member for The Alliance for Commercial Technology in Government.1

Her work continues to influence the landscape of artificial intelligence within both commercial and governmental sectors, positioning her as a key figure in shaping future AI strategies.