Meet the MURFs: Robert Chong

Robert Chong is a member of the Class of 2028 in the School of Foreign Service, majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. As a MURF, he works with Professor Kwame Otu, researching topics concerning the intersection of technology and ethics such as illegal electronic waste deposits in Ghana, and the exploitative use of low-cost labor in Sub-Saharan Africa for content moderation by frontier AI companies. Outside of the MURF program, he is a student consultant for Georgetown Global Consulting (GGC), and the Director of Operations for the Georgetown AI Association (GAIA). In his free time, Robert enjoys playing tennis, finding new music to add to his monthly Spotify playlist, and reading fantasy novels.

Tell us about a research project you worked on as a MURF

This semester, I researched content moderation processes used by OpenAI and other frontier AI companies. We found that many tech companies recruited low-cost labor from Sub-Saharan African countries for content moderation jobs, provided inadequate compensation and support mechanisms to these workers, and have very ambiguous content moderation policies that allow hate speech towards minority populations to be platformed. Next semester, I look forward to researching the use of AI in content moderation to replace human workers and its implications, and comparing content moderation policies of US companies to those operating in other countries like China.

What is one skill you’ve gained from your participation in the MURF program?

Through the MURF program, I think I’ve definitely honed my ability to manage independent projects. Whether it be setting up weekly meetings with my faculty mentor to discuss research progress, tracking research progress, or periodically reflecting on evolving research interests, I had to develop a structured approach to my work to avoid going adrift when academic and extracurricular commitments were demanding. It’s a skill I definitely see myself building onto as I progress to the independent research phase of the MURF program, and a skill that has served me tremendously in my other extracurricular and professional commitments.

What is one memory that stands out to you from your participation in the MURF program so far?

Attending the Mortara Center’s 25th Anniversary Dinner Reception event! The dinner was hosted in Riggs Library, which was absolutely breathtaking to see for the first time, and I got the chance to share my experiences as a MURF with many beneficiaries and friends of the Mortara Center, including the Mortara Family and Speaker Emerita Pelosi.

What do you enjoy doing outside of the MURF program?

Watching Formula 1. Rooting for Cadillac in the new season!