Brenna Berman
Senior Fellow - Rethinkai @New America
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Fellow - Rethinkai @New America
Washington, DC, US
In collaboration with a diverse coalition of peers spanning government, academia, and philanthropy, I co-developed the Rethink AI Program — a groundbreaking initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of advanced AI solutions within government and community organizations tackling the most pressing policy challenges of our time. Recognizing that technology alone is never enough, the program was built on the belief that meaningful change requires bringing the right people to the table and fostering deep collaboration across sectors. In October, RethinkAI delivered the inaugural State of Civic AI annual report — a landmark publication that established a foundation for future policy briefs, pilots, and actionable roadmaps for government innovation. The program\'s work has been focused where it matters most — addressing urgent and complex societal challenges, including homelessness, environmental equity, and public emergency response, demonstrating that when AI is applied thoughtfully and collaboratively, it has the power to transform not just government operations but the lives of the communities they serve.
EDUCATION
University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago
Master of Arts - MA
ABOUT BRENNA BERMAN
In the words of 19th-century abolitionist Theodore Parker,\'Cities have always been the fireplaces of civilization, whence light and heat radiated out into the dark.\' These words have guided my life\'s work — a career built on the belief that technology, designed with humanity at its center, can be one of the most powerful forces for good in the world.Having lived and worked across more than 50 cities globally, I have witnessed both the extraordinary resilience of urban communities and the deep inequities that too often define them. That tension — between what cities are and what they could be — is what drives me every day.My journey began at IBM, where I partnered with cities worldwide to shape policy, architect systems, and build infrastructure to make communities healthier, safer, and more prosperous. Returning to my adopted home of Chicago, I led a citywide innovation initiative using data and emerging technology not as ends in themselves, but as tools to dismantle outdated systems and empower residents — particularly those historically underserved.I went on to found my own venture at the intersection of urban innovation and technology — bringing together cities, corporations, startups, and academia to co-create solutions to the most entrenched community challenges. From homelessness and environmental inequity to public safety and emergency response, the work has always been grounded in a simple but radical idea: technology should serve people, not the other way around.Today my work is focused on one of the most consequential questions of our time: how do we ensure AI becomes a force for equity, inclusion, and human dignity rather than deepening existing divides? Through the Rethink AI Program and my advisory work with early-stage startups, I am committed to helping governments and communities adopt AI thoughtfully, ethically, and collaboratively — by building the policies, pilots, and partnerships to make that vision a reality.I believe good technology is inseparable from peace — that when we design AI with equity and humanity at its core and refuse to leave communities behind, we are doing more than solving policy problems. We are building the conditions for a more just and peaceful world.Cities have always been my home, my inspiration, and my purpose — and where humanity\'s greatest challenges will ultimately be solved, one community, one collaboration, and one breakthrough at a time.
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