Avoiding Bias and Building an Inclusive Future: Championing AI

Shaping the future of AI goes hand in hand with discussions of diversity, equity, inclusion (DE&I), and women’s leadership. As AI increasingly pervades, revolutionizes industries, and reshapes the daily lives of people, the question of addressing intrinsic biases and ensuring inclusivity in the development of AI becomes critical.

The underrepresentation of women in the process of development and leadership roles when it comes to AI, as recorded by a recent UNESCO study, acts only to further stereotyping and gender disparities.

This blog addresses the theme and key takeaways of the upcoming roundtable session: “Avoiding Bias and Building an Inclusive Future: Championing AI.”

You can register here for the Roundtable.

State of AI Today: Gender Gaps Prevail

Artificial intelligence is making considerable inroads in healthcare, finance, retail, and transportation. At the same time, this would present a disproportionate challenge in ensuring that AI systems are so designed and rolled out as to be inclusive and devoid of bias.

The basic underrepresentation of women in AI is one such pertinent challenge; it would only result in the construction of socio-technical systems that cannot actually take into account the diverse needs and perspectives of all genders.

Alice Dungey, Director of Technology QMO at Southwest Airlines, emphasizes, “We are committed to responsible innovation and are taking thoughtful steps to ensure we have the right policies and processes in place as we continue to leverage AI. Our focus is to help all teams benefit from the use of AI, which requires that we set up for success by establishing good governance processes and acceptable uses to protect our business and establish discipline. Ultimately, AI should increase the speed of productivity and Quality Delivery.”

Addressing Bias in AI Development

Bias in AI can creep in at several levels: data collection, model training, and deployment.

According to Seema Dwarakish, VP of Software Engineering at Sabre, highlights, “Biases are inherent in the AI development process, appearing at stages like data collection, model training, and deployment. To tackle this, it’s essential to use diverse datasets, set fairness rules during model creation, conduct regular bias checks, and involve diverse teams to ensure inclusivity throughout the AI lifecycle. Additionally, continuous monitoring and updating of AI systems are crucial to maintain fairness and mitigate emerging biases over time.”

Janet Lin, VP of Lending and Payments Technology at Equitable Bank, underscores the need to address potential biases at every stage of AI development, from algorithm design to data collection and model training. “To build an inclusive future with AI, it requires to address potential biases at every stage of AI development—from algorithm design, to data collection to model training. It also extends beyond just technological solutions; it is a commitment to team diversity and adherence to ethical principles.”

The Role of Women in AI Ethics and Innovation

Women’s leadership in AI could lead to ethical innovation and ensure congruence of AI with organizational and social values.

According to Anita Chhabra, AVP of Sales at Cigniti, “In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, championing AI means tackling bias head-on to shape an inclusive future. It’s about fostering dialogue and collaboration to harness technology’s potential for all. With decades of IT leadership experience in the male-dominated domain, I am passionate about advocating for unbiased technological advancements that promote inclusivity.”

Jennifer Baker, Data Scan and Women in Technology (WIT) Board Director, highlights the pivotal role of leaders in promoting ethical AI innovation across industries. “Leaders play a pivotal role in promoting ethical AI innovation across all industries to enhance operational efficiency and foster an inclusive tech landscape. It is important that we accept the responsibility to play that impactful role of influence by creating opportunities that nurture a future where women thrive in tech, driving generations to come toward a more equitable and innovative AI world.”

Creating an Inclusive Future for Women in AI

Building a future that is actually inclusive—the one with AI—shall have to consider the biases and guarantee diversity in all aspects. One important thing that will shape AI Ethically and Sustainably is women’s leadership. The roundtable shall address the vision women leaders in AI will exercise within themes set by ethics, sustainability, and inclusivity, geared at guiding young professionals in leadership in this tech-enabled landscape.

Impact of AI on Organizational Change

There is a potential for the use of AI to increase unbiased results and bring efficiency into organizations, which would reasonably fan constructive organizational change processes. Women’s participation in AI leadership is essential to have AI systems designed so that they can become inclusive. By integrating diverse perspectives, one could eventually build an AI to reduce inequities and support impartial results.

Ending Bias and Boosting Inclusivity

This roundtable will have leaders discuss how to make AI development more inclusive and less biased. For this, every stage of AI development—from design through algorithms, data collection, model training, and deployment—has to be scanned for biases. Diverse teams and constant monitoring are also required to keep the AI system as fair and unbiased as possible.

The Importance of AI Education for Women

Education stands out among the critical determinants that can help bridge the gap. A policy to increase the promotion of STEM training and create opportunities for women in tech would go a long way. Janet Lin remarks that STEM education has gone a long way in increasing women’s participation in technology, especially in AI.

The Need of Women Leaders to Mentor Young Talent

The rapidly evolving AI landscape is full of challenges and opportunities for young professionals. From addressing biases to promoting ethical AI practice, we need to discuss ways women leaders can mentor and sponsor young talent so they are not left behind in this technology-powered world.

Discussion Points at the Roundtable

Join this Roundtable where women leaders will brainstorm and discuss the following areas:

1. Opportunities and Challenges in AI: What does the boom of AI mean for women in tech, and what role does the process present for advancement?
2. Women Combating Bias to Enable Inclusivity: How are women going to play a central role in fighting bias in AI and ensuring that inclusive, unbiased models are developed? The leaders will also share their views on building AI with equality at the core and why diversity in perspective is vital for effective AI.
3. Ethical AI: How do women leaders in AI lead the path of ethical considerations and responsible innovation so that AI always stays aligned with organizational and societal values? How exactly has the role of women leaders contributed towards integrating diverse talent and processes that will help to reduce bias and also ensure ethical AI development?
4. Mitigating Bias Across the AI Lifecycle: How can biases be overcome and reduced throughout the life cycle of AI, mainly while collecting and processing data?
5. Ensuring Ethical and Secure AI Development: What are some of the steps taken to ensure that AI is ethically and securely developing, more particularly in the dimensions of privacy risks for working women? What role do governments, associations, and regulators play in leadership roles in framing ethical use and AI-associated regulations?
6. Future Trends and Opportunities: The leaders will share the significant trends that have started or are starting to shape the future of AI, and how women in tech can realize such trends. Which functions are huge in investments toward AI, and how can women take advantage of this?
7. Obstacles to AI Adoption and How to Overcome Them: The most significant obstacles to a more general diffusion of AI throughout the industry will be discussed, along with strategies to overcome these obstacles.
8. Impact of STEM Education on Gender Gap: In what ways has the emphasis and concentration on STEM education bridged the gender gap in the utilization of technology, especially in relation to AI?

Conclusion

The “Avoiding Bias and Building an Inclusive Future: Championing AI” roundtable advocates for pressing matters such as bias, ethics, and inclusivity in the development of AI. It draws attention to women’s representation in AI leadership and the incorporation of inclusive perspectives for setting powerful technologies on the right path. This roundtable works toward a future in AI that is more inclusive and fair. It would be incumbent upon us, as AI continues to revolutionize industries, to ensure that we construct systems reflecting the diverse needs and views of all genders in society, so that we have a society that is fair and inclusive.

Register for the roundtable now!