Alexis Wichowski
ABOUT
I work, write, and teach about technology, public service, and power. I currently serve as Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies following 12 years an an adjunct at the School of International & Public Affairs. Outside of the classroom, I write, speak, and advocate for responsible tech development and tech's impact on the human experience. I also work on information experiences, with and without technology.
Much of what I write about is tech's role in the world at early signs of large-scale change and as a means to advocate for ways we can effectively ride those waves. In a 2017 WIRED article "Net states rule the world," I introduced the term "net states" to describe how tech companies were acting like countries. My research and reporting on what as, at the time, early indicators of Big Tech's expansion beyond their core products and services into diplomacy, defense, public infrastructure and citizen services -- things that used to be the domain of governments alone -- became the 2020 book, The Information Trade: How Big Tech Conquers Countries, Challenges Our Rights & Transforms Our World (HarperCollins).
When writing the book in 2018, my first interview was with the world's first -- and only, at the time -- tech ambassador, from Denmark. By the time the book came out, approximately 12 more countries had appointed diplomatic envoys to the tech sector -- from 2020 - 2023 I wrote a series of advocacy pieces, tailored to different audiences, making the case that every country needed tech ambassadors if they were to have any chance at mitigating their power: WIRED, for the tech industry ("Nations need ambassadors to Big Tech"; The Hill, for policymakers ("America must have a technology ambassador for the digital world"); The Washington Post, for lawmakers and regulators ("The U.S. can't regulate Big Tech companies when they act like nations"). In 2023, the World Economic Forum launched the Tech Diplomacy Network, making the movement official: almost every country, as well as the European Union and the United Nations, had appointed tech ambassadors.
In addition to writing and teaching, I've spent my career as a public servant and root for good bureaucrats whenever possible. Past work in government includes for the City of New York as a Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Associate Commissioner & Press Secretary at the founding of its Department of Veterans’ Services, and various roles within the US Department of State and the US Mission to the United Nations. In addition to public service and teaching, I've written on technology, government, and power in various outlets such as The Washington Post, TechCrunch, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, and others.
Past life work includes disaster relief, literary translation, media impact research, indexing, coding, theater production, and pretzel vending, a Ph.D. in Information Science from SUNY Albany and a BA in Chinese from Connecticut College.
Experience
current
- Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia University
public service
- Fellows Experience Supervisor, United States Digital Corps, GSA
- Deputy Chief Technology Officer (Innovation; Broadband (act.), NYC
- Assoc. Commissioner / Press Officer, Dept. of Veterans' Services, NYC
- Director of Media Analysis & Strategy, US Mission to the United Nations
- Presidential Management Fellow, Office of eDiplomacy, US Dept of State
teaching
- Professor, Columbia University
- Guest instructor, Insper (Brazil)
- Adjunct professor, Columbia University
- Lecturer, University at Albany, SUNY
education
- PhD, Information Science, University at Albany, SUNY
- BA, Chinese, Connecticut College
other
- Disaster relief field responder, American Red Cross
- Literary translation (Chinese > English), Guangzhou, China
- Media impact research, Harmony Labs
- Founding member, Inverse Theater
- Pretzel vendor, Union Square
recognition
- NYC[x] Tech & Innovation Awards, co-founder, NYC
- NYC[x] Tech & Innovation Awards, “Meta Award,” NYC
- NYC[x] Innovation Fellows, co-founder, NYC
- “Top Five Course Award” (student vote), Columbia University
- Responsible Tech “All Tech is Human,” Mentor
- Govern for America “League of Innovators,” Mentor
- Service 2 Service, Dept. of Veterans' Services, Mentor
- Meritorious Honor Awards (3): USUN; Office of eDiplomacy
- Presidential Management Fellowship, Office of Personnel Mgmt
- Distinguished Dissertation Award, University at Albany, SUNY
- “Women in Technology Award,” University at Albany, SUNY
- Fulbright-Hayes fellowship, US-China