University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Vaishnavi Thogati

I study computer science and philosophy and work on AI governance and strategy. I also compete in singles figure skating.

Work

Seven elements

Each number on the ice is something I’ve worked on. Drag to turn the rink, and select a number to read about it.

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Program

  1. 01

    Product and AI Strategy, Hire10x

    Since 2024

    AI hiring startup

    I started as an intern. Now I work on product strategy and help evaluate hiring workflows that use AI, translating what the technology can do into decisions for users and other stakeholders. I drafted responsible AI guidance for training data and deployment. I also supported a pitch to Telangana government officials that contributed to $10,000 in funding, and made a website and webinar explaining the platform’s AI.

  2. 02

    Independent AI Governance Study

    Since 2025

    Study and writing

    I study how AI design choices interact with laws and institutions. My topics include the EU AI Act’s definition of an AI system, algorithmic decision-making, surveillance, and training data governance. I’m developing a research agenda on how the U.S. can reduce frontier AI risk without unnecessarily weakening its strategic competitiveness.

  3. 03

    Ethical AI Career Lab

    2026

    Personal project

    I built a website to help students and job seekers use AI honestly when writing résumés and cover letters, preparing for interviews, and networking. Its chatbot runs on Gemini and only answers questions about using AI ethically. I used Next.js, TypeScript, and Tailwind CSS.

  4. 04

    AI and Machine Learning Capstone

    2025 to 2026

    Honors capstone, BASIS Peoria

    I implemented k-nearest neighbors and k-means models in Python with scikit-learn and pandas across several datasets, visualized the results with matplotlib, and wrote up my analysis.

  5. 05

    Delegate, Model UN

    2025 to 2026

    OECD committee, representing Ghana

    I won Best Delegate for my arguments on safe AI policy and helped build support for proposals the committee adopted.

  6. 06

    Speech and Debate

    5 years of debate

    Lincoln-Douglas debate and informative speaking

    In Lincoln-Douglas debate, I researched and argued both sides of ethics and public policy questions, including surveillance. I won Best Novice Debater, served as PR manager, and mentored middle school debaters. In informative speaking, I gave a speech on how the brain processes information, including neural networks, and how it connects to AI, and placed third in the state.

  7. 07

    Class President and Student Body President

    2023 to 2025

    BASIS Peoria

    I represented students to administrators, led school-wide initiatives, and helped gather feedback and negotiate disputed school policies.

About

On and off the ice

I’m studying computer science and philosophy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I compete in singles figure skating through the U.S. Figure Skating collegiate program.

I’m interested in frontier AI risk, alignment and safety, AI competition between the U.S. and China, national security, and practical AI regulation.

Hometown
Phoenix, Arizona
Discipline
Singles, collegiate level
School
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Studying
Computer science and philosophy
High school
BASIS Peoria
GPA
4.0
Honors
AP Scholar with Distinction
Code
Python, Java
Languages
English, Telugu, Spanish

Now

Reading list

Books and papers on my list.

Contact

Write to me

Email is the best way to reach me.