"Architects of Equity": Ada Developers Academy's Role in Shaping the Future of AI in Seattle

VIDEO: AI House Grand Opening Recap on Back2Besa (Converge Media / FOX13 Seattle)

By Omari Salisbury

Seattle's historic Pier 70 buzzed with excitement on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, as the city officially launched the AI House, a groundbreaking public-private partnership aimed at solidifying Seattle's position as the AI Hub of the United States. The initiative brings together the City of Seattle, AI2 (Allen Institute for AI), Ada Developers Academy, and the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The grand opening event drew a diverse crowd, including Mayor Bruce Harrell, community leaders, tech founders, researchers, students, and alumni. The AI House is envisioned as a collaborative space where these groups can converge to build, create, and innovate in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

A key focus of the AI House is ensuring equity and inclusion in the tech sector, with Ada Developers Academy playing a central role. Ada is a software development training program for women and gender-expansive adults, primarily serving and addressing the needs of Black, Latine, Indigenous Americans, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people.

Tina-Marie Gulley, CEO of Ada Developers Academy, emphasized the importance of diverse voices in shaping the future of AI. "This space is not just a venue, it's a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and equity in the heart of the city known for its tech ambition and social progress," she stated. "For Ada, being a part of this movement is deeply personal. It's a testament to our shared belief that AI, when shaped by diverse voices, can transform the world for the better."

Gully further explained Ada's mission: "Our goal is simple, to dismantle barriers to opportunity through workforce development programs. And now as AI reshapes industries, economies, and daily life, our mission has never been more urgent." She highlighted the potential for AI to perpetuate existing biases and the need for intervention. "Studies have shown that AI perpetuates hiring healthcare and criminal justice biases, and without intervention, AI could deeply have inadequate displacement of workers while also concentrating power at the hands of very few."

Ada's involvement in the AI House means their students and alumni will have access to unique opportunities for entrepreneurship, careers, discovery, and education. "Through this collaboration, we are creating unique programming together, providing our over 1300 students and alumni with clear pathways to opportunities," Gulley said. She also pointed out that Ada's curriculum already integrates AI literacy, preparing students not just to use AI tools but to question and understand their impact. "We prepare them to question, them to ask who benefits who's represented in this data, how do we design programs and systems that repair rather than replicate injustices?"

Mayor Bruce Harrell expressed his pride in the city's investment in the AI community. "We're trying to bring the best minds together," he said, emphasizing the responsibility to use AI responsibly. Markham McIntyre, Director of the Office of Economic Development, echoed this sentiment, noting that Seattle has the right ingredients to lead the technological revolution: "We have the brain power, we have the values, and we have the resources."

Yifan Zhang, Co-Managing Director of the AI2 Incubator, highlighted the importance of in-person connections and knowledge sharing. "We need to do more to build a culture of gathering in person without expecting immediate return," she said, emphasizing the belief that sharing, learning, and connecting eventually come full circle.

The AI House aims to foster this culture of gathering through startup co-working spaces, expert access, and large-scale events. With 15 AI startups already in residence and plans for 1,000 desks for rent to AI startups, the AI House is set to become a vibrant hub for innovation.

As Seattle embarks on this new chapter in its tech history, the emphasis on equity and inclusion, championed by Ada Developers Academy, ensures that the benefits of AI are shared by all members of the community. "This partnership signals that Seattle isn't just building AI," Gulley concluded, "We're defining who gets to be a part of building it."