In Memoriam: Abhishek Gupta (Dec 20, 1992 – Sep 30, 2024)
Honoring the Life and Legacy of a Leader in AI Ethics
In accordance with his family's wishes, it is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Abhishek Gupta, Founder and Principal Researcher of the Montreal AI Ethics Institute (MAIEI), Director for Responsible AI at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and a pioneering voice in the field of AI ethics. Abhishek passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 30, 2024 in India, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his father, Ashok Kumar Gupta; his mother, Asha Gupta; and his younger brother, Abhijay Gupta.
Note: Details of a memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks. For those who wish to share stories, personal anecdotes, and photos of Abhishek, please visit www.forevermissed.com/abhishekgupta — your contributions will be greatly appreciated by his family and loved ones.Born on December 20, 1992, in India, Abhishek's intellectual curiosity and drive to understand technology led him on a remarkable journey. After excelling at Delhi Public School, Abhishek attended McGill University in Montreal, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSc’15). Following his graduation, Abhishek worked as a software engineer at Ericsson. He later joined Microsoft as a machine learning engineer, where he also served on the CSE Responsible AI Board. It was during his time in Montreal that Abhishek envisioned a future where ethics and AI would intertwine—a vision that became the driving force behind his life's work.
The Beginnings: Building a Global AI Ethics Community
Abhishek’s vision for MAIEI was rooted in community building. He began hosting in-person AI Ethics Meetups in Montreal throughout 2017. These gatherings were unique—participants completed assigned readings in advance, split into small groups for discussion, and then reconvened to share insights. This approach fostered deep, structured conversations and made AI ethics accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. The conversations and insights from these meetups became the foundation of MAIEI, which was launched in May 2018.
When the pandemic hit, Abhishek adapted the meetup format to an online setting, enabling MAIEI to expand worldwide. It was his idea to bring these conversations to a global stage, using virtual platforms to ensure voices from all corners of the world could join in. He passionately stood up for the "little guy," making sure that those whose voices might be overlooked or unheard in traditional forums had a platform. Under his stewardship, MAIEI emerged as a globally recognized leader in fostering public discussions on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Through MAIEI, Abhishek fulfilled his mission of democratizing AI ethics literacy, empowering individuals from all backgrounds to engage with the future of technology.
Legacy and Lasting Influence
At BCG, Abhishek worked closely with the Chief AI Ethics Officer to advise clients and build end-to-end responsible AI programs. His work focused on applied technical, policy, and organizational measures for building ethical, safe, and inclusive AI systems, especially in operationalizing responsible AI and assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of these systems. He held the prestigious BCG Henderson Institute Fellowship on Augmented Collective Intelligence, where his research centered on how to harness the complementary strengths of human and machine actors to enable broader, faster, and deeper exploration of problem and solution spaces.
As Chair of the Standards Working Group at the Green Software Foundation, Abhishek led the development of a software carbon intensity standard aimed at measuring the environmental impacts of AI systems in a comparable and interoperable manner. His commitment to sustainability in AI was recognized with The Gradient Writing Prize 2021 for his work on "The Imperative for Sustainable AI Systems."
Abhishek advised national governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and corporations around the globe. His work on community building has been recognized by governments from North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. He spoke at the United Nations, European Parliament, G7 AI Summit, TEDx, Harvard Business School, and the Kellogg School of Management, among others. His writings on responsible AI have also been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, MIT Technology Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Forbes, Fortune, VentureBeat, the World Economic Forum, and more.
An alumnus of the U.S. State Department International Visitors Leadership Program representing Canada, Abhishek's research has been published in leading AI journals and presented at top-tier machine learning conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, and IJCAI. Abhishek was also a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, a member of The Banff Forum, a Senior Fellow in Responsible AI at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), a Technical Committee Member at Accessibility Standards Canada, and more.
Impact on MAIEI and the AI Ethics Community
Affectionately known as Abhi, he was more than just a leader in AI ethics—he was a beloved son, brother, and friend who touched countless lives with his warmth and kindness. His passion for life was palpable in his presence. Whether cooking his legendary daal makhani or sharing his love for stand-up comedy, he brought joy and laughter to everything he did, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew him. A voracious reader, he left behind a personal library of over 1,000 books and had the rare ability to distill complex ideas into simple, accessible language.
One of his most significant accomplishments was transforming The AI Ethics Brief into a household name among researchers, policymakers, and tech leaders. What began as a way to share key insights grew into a must-read resource for anyone engaged in AI ethics, reaching thousands and establishing MAIEI as a thought leader in the field. Believing in making complex ideas accessible, Abhishek often summarized research papers and articles to ensure that anyone, regardless of their technical background, could understand and engage with AI ethics. He valued the contributions of fellow researchers, inviting them to showcase the latest AI ethics research on MAIEI’s blog, thus amplifying their voices and fostering a collaborative community.
In the final years of his life, Abhishek worked tirelessly, writing as though he knew his time was limited. His extensive body of work has resulted in hundreds of citations on Google Scholar, including the widely read State of AI Ethics Report. It's a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge and his commitment to building a future where AI is used responsibly and ethically.
Celebrating Abhishek’s Life and Vision
Abhishek’s contributions have reached thousands and will continue to inspire future generations. His legacy will continue through the ongoing work of the Montreal AI Ethics Institute, where we plan to establish an award in his memory to honor his significant contributions to the field of AI ethics.
If you are interested in supporting or becoming involved with MAIEI's initiatives, please reach out to Renjie Butalid at renjie@montrealethics.ai. Please expect a delay in response; we appreciate your patience as we collect our thoughts and work through our grief during this difficult time.
Note: Details of a memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks. For those who wish to share stories, personal anecdotes, and photos of Abhishek, please visit www.forevermissed.com/abhishekgupta — your contributions will be greatly appreciated by his family and loved ones.On behalf of the Montreal AI Ethics Institute team, advisors, and global community, we extend our deepest condolences to Abhishek’s family and all who were touched by his remarkable life and enduring legacy.
Abhi, you will be greatly missed.
What a tremendous loss. May his memory be for a blessing.
Thank you for fighting the good fight, Abhi.
May you rest in peace.