King (Vivek) Vanga
Masters Student in Management Science and Engineering, admitted Autumn 2020
Bio
King Vanga is a Stanford-trained AI researcher and the founder of CivicSentinel AI, a public-interest initiative focused on developing ethical tools to detect and neutralize harmful uses of artificial intelligence.
His work spans adversarial AI, misinformation detection, and algorithmic accountability. King previously founded AEGIS (Applied Ethics, Governance, and Institutional Systems) and has worked at the intersection of civic institutions and machine learning.
His research is rooted in Stanford’s interdisciplinary approach to ethical technology and has informed open-source frameworks and public-interest platforms.
King’s academic background includes computer science (AI Track) and Management Science & Engineering, with published research in both graph theory and social systems.
Education & Affiliation
King holds a B.S. in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence track) from Stanford University and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Management Science & Engineering (Technology and Engineering Management) at Stanford. His training in computer science offers foundational technical fluency, while his advanced work in MS&E underscores his commitment to leadership and the managerial side of technology.
Professional & Research Focus
As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CivicSentinel AI, King leads the development of transparent, ethical platforms for early threat detection, misinformation triage, and algorithmic accountability—tools designed to empower civic institutions, journalists, and technologists before AI-driven risks escalate.
His research contributions include peer-reviewed studies on AI safety, alignment, adversarial risk modelling, computational approaches to misinformation mitigation, and decision-making under uncertainty. In particular, he has produced quantitative models of AI existential risk and frameworks for algorithmic governance.
King’s career blends deep technical expertise with leadership in technology management, positioning him to bridge innovation and responsible deployment.
Community Service & Civic Engagement
Beyond his academic and professional work, King has a sustained record of community-oriented efforts. He co-founded the nonprofit Kare Packages, which distributed over 1,000 COVID-19 protection kits and 1,500 face masks to unhoused populations across California during the pandemic.
He also co-founded the student-led initiative AEGIS at Stanford, which advanced algorithmic ethics, civic tech oversight, and institutional resilience. His public-facing mission emphasizes that smarter AI must be paired with accountability—and that technology should defend, rather than undermine, public trust.
Key Projects & Impact
• CivicSentinel AI: Founder & CEO, leading a platform for AI-based misinformation detection and threat analysis with transparency and civic purpose.
• Engineering risk analysis of AI existential risk: Peer-reviewed study at Stanford MS&E connecting decision-making under uncertainty to AI governance models.
• Kare Packages: Co-founder of a nonprofit delivering COVID-19 protection kits and masks to unhoused communities across California.
• AEGIS (Applied Ethics, Governance, and Institutional Systems): Co-founded while at Stanford; a student initiative advancing ethics in civic technology and institutional oversight.
Awards & Recognition
• Commended for community service during COVID-19 relief efforts.
• Selected for the Stanford MS&E Leadership Fellowship, recognizing leadership and technical-managerial excellence.
• Published peer-reviewed research cited in academic and policy discussions on AI risk, governance and misinformation.