Girl Decoded: A Scientist's Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology

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I read this book in a single sitting and found so much meaning in the story. Rana el Kaliouby's story of growing up in the Middle East, and relentlessly chasing her dreams as they led her across the world, was inspiring. Personally, as a young woman who started my career several years ago, it was really encouraging to read about a strong woman who's defied cultural/gender norms to become a leader in a male-dominated industry. I also appreciated the sense of hope in the future of technology... so often we read about the potential for tech like artificial intelligence to take over humanity or replace us. But the AI that the author is building shows how these technologies could have a really positive impact on us. I recommend this book for anyone curious about the future of tech or anyone who needs a little encouragement to carve their own path!

A delightful, insightful and illuminating window into the unique life of Rana el Kaliouby, a pioneer in the humanizing field of Emotion AI. One of the early developers of computer systems that are able to read and interpret emotions from facial expressions, Rana has been an inspiration to me for years. Her memoir shares the many intersecting worlds she has had to navigate as a student, scientist, wife, mother, Egyptian-American, entrepreneur, and CEO and is sure to inspire and empower a generation of future scientists and technologists.

I was truly riveted and captivated by Rana's personal and professional journey. As a woman co-founder I can personally relate to the obstacles and challenges that she endured to see her dream come to fruition. I connected with her on so many fronts - especially motherhood. I am not a computer science person but you do not need to be to relate to this fascinating field of emotional AI. There is so much humanity in this technology that I truly hope it is always used to further benevolence and connection in our device-driven society. Rana's ability to share her deepest emotions with the reader really brings you into her life. Her vulnerability in telling her story allows the reader to connect with her experiences and you find yourself rooting for her the whole way. The sacrifices she makes to follow her vision and dream were inspiring to me. I found myself researching emotional AI after each read, the positive impact emotive AI can have on our world seems limitless. I hope to be hearing about Affectiva and its impact on the world for a long time.

Girl Decoded (by Dr. Rana el Kaliouby) is a beautifully written story of her start-up, Affectiva, and her mission to humanize technology using AI to assess emotions across multiple domainsRana interleaves her professional story w/ personal struggles and growth, sprinkling vulnerability, humor and wit throughoutWomen in STEM are few, but Eastern/Middle Eastern women leaders in tech are even fewer.While my black, latina, white (+) sisters are making great progress in STEM careers, our Eastern sisters are held back by our own families to remain "good" daughters/wives.Like Malala, Rana gives due credit to (male and female) allies throughout her journey ❤️Very inspirational book... read it and help unleash more Ranas!🔥

Rana’s book tells a story about a woman’s journey to breaking ground in a new field of AI, and to building a successful company. But the journey as she tells it is deeply personal and an unfolding of her whole self. She narrates with her inner voice, so that we are privy to all aspects of her life: yes, her intellectual curiosity, vision and determination - but also her insecurities, and at times almost crippling self-doubt. It’s in what she learns through overcoming these challenges that she grows: “Looking back I realized the hardest person to convince that I could be CEO was myself.” We learn that Affectiva’s success and Rana’s development as a woman are two sides of the same coin, and that her path is distinctly hers. We have the sense that there’s no right way, just the authentic way, and being true to who you are. This book defies genres because in it Rana tells her whole story. As a woman reader, Rana’s journey feels relatable, encouraging, and ultimately achievable. A truly inspiring read.