investHER-UK’s Post

I recommend this TechCrunch piece to anyone (especially women) interested in working in AI. The article profiles the formidable Kristine G., my partner in building Young Futures Org since Day 1. I'm lucky to learn from her everyday. When asked: What advice would you give to women seeking to enter the AI field? Kristine says, "Enter in and follow your curiosity. This space is in constant motion, and the most interesting (and likely most productive) pursuit is to continuously be critically optimistic about the field itself." https://lnkd.in/gfDhCh6t

The International Women and Justice Summit, held biennially, stands as one of KADEM’s most distinguished global platforms, dedicated to addressing women’s issues through a comprehensive and multidimensional lens. This year, we are proud to host the sixth edition of the summit, focusing on the timely and critical theme: "Artificial Intelligence and Women." Through this event, we aim to explore the intersection of technology and gender, shedding light on the opportunities and challenges women face in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. https://lnkd.in/dx7vDmMA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WOMEN Artificial intelligence technologies are accelerating significantly in human life and leading to revolutionary changes in various sectors. We believe that artificial intelligence can offer new opportunities to eliminate social inequalities between men and women in our current era. However, we acknowledge that harnessing this potential is not given but demands our full attention and careful consideration. It is crucial to remember that alongside its promise, artificial intelligence can also pose certain risks and present unforeseen challenges. Therefore, how artificial intelligence will shape the future with all its potential and risks is one of the most critical debates of our time. At KADEM’s sixth women and justice summit, we are opening up discussions on the steps that can be taken to use these technologies for an inclusive and sustainable world. In the summit, we aim to deeply discuss how the gains we will acquire in the age of artificial intelligence can be used for a more just and secure future for women, with a holistic approach. By reassessing our experiences and ideas about women’s subjectivity, position, and rights in the age of artificial intelligence, we aim to deepen our awareness and understanding of this issue, announce our demands and proposals for empowering women to the public, and develop advocacy activities on relevant issues. We aim to address the following key questions: – Can advancements in artificial intelligence technology pave the way for a more just and equitable future for women? – What are the positive and negative repercussions of AI technologies and algorithms on women? – Can AI generate novel gender norms or perpetuate existing ones? – Might AI offer a path towards more inclusive and impartial gender norms? – Are the gender perspectives of AI developers and producers reflected in algorithms? – Can we mitigate potential biases? – What strategies can we employ to ensure that women are not only users but also equal co-creators in the development and application of future AI technologies?

In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming the world, the contributions of women in this field are often overlooked. TechCrunch's featured article, "The Women in AI Making a Difference," highlights the remarkable achievements of women who have significantly impacted AI. Irene Solaiman at Hugging Face and Eva Maydell in the European Parliament are among the trailblazers shaping AI with their expertise and dedication. These women advocate for ethical AI practices, inspiring future generations and emphasizing the importance of diversity in advancing AI technology. Great article, I invite you to read more ⬇ #WomeninAI #DiversityinTech #AIAdvancements

🌟 Exploring the Future of AI and Democracy with UNESCO's Latest Report 🌟 In an era where technology rapidly evolves, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and democracy presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. UNESCO's recently published report, "Artificial Intelligence and Democracy," delves deep into these critical issues. Here are the key highlights from the report: 💡 Democratic Expectations vs. Digital Realities The report opens with a reflection on the high hopes and subsequent disappointments that have accompanied the digital age. It highlights how digital technologies, while promising greater transparency and citizen engagement, have also introduced challenges like misinformation and erosion of public discourse. 💡The New Digital Public Space A thriving democracy depends on robust public conversation. The digital era reshapes this space, offering new platforms for dialogue but also bringing risks of fragmented and superficial interactions. The report stresses the need for enhancing the quality of digital conversations to support democratic values. 💡 Big Data and Democracy As data becomes central to governance, the politics of Big Data come into focus. The report examines how data can both empower and undermine democratic processes, emphasizing the importance of data governance that aligns with democratic principles. 💡 Algorithmic Governance With AI systems increasingly making decisions, the report explores how these can coexist with democratic governance. It addresses the need for transparency and accountability in algorithmic decision-making to ensure it supports rather than detracts from democratic ideals. 💡 Recommendations for the Future Ethical AI Development: Uphold human rights, dignity, and gender equality in AI systems. Inclusive Systems: Ensure AI benefits are equitably distributed across all regions and cultures. Transparent Regulation: Develop robust national and international regulatory frameworks to oversee AI deployment. As we navigate this pivotal moment in global politics, marked by rapid technological advances and pressing societal challenges, it's essential to engage in multidisciplinary dialogues to build a more equitable, inclusive, and democratic world. 👉 How do you see AI impacting our democratic processes? 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dXD4Avs9 #ArtificialIntelligence #Democracy #UNESCO #DigitalGovernance #EthicalAI #FutureOfDemocracy

💡 Women are 20% less likely than men to engage with generative AI. ▶️ This trend is consistent across 18 studies covering over 140,000 individuals worldwide. ▶️ The gender gap exists across all regions, sectors, and occupations. *Based on the study Global Evidence on Gender Gaps and Generative AI (Otis et al., 2024). Why? 😇 Some studies attribute it to the "Good Girl Complex". Some feel they're cheating when using AI solutions - some aren't confident about using it. I'm thrilled that Cat Moon 😺 rallied a bunch of folks and sponsors for the Women+AI Summit at Vanderbilt tomorrow. I can't wait. We gotta fix this.

Happy to share our new paper as part of the divinAI (Diversity in Artificial Intelligence) Project, which investigates key diversity indicators in the AI community. Our research analyses the development of diversity indicators from 2007 to 2023 and is accompanied by a dashboard where the data can be explored further.  The paper focuses on six core AI conferences, and how indicators for gender, geographical location and organisation type has changed over time. Based on the papers published in the conference proceedings, it shows a slight upwards trend in the overall diversity index. There are however differences between the conferences, with NeurIPS and ICML seeming to be the less diverse ones. Specifically on gender, the proportion of female authors has increased over time, which may relate to the growing number of initiatives to foster inclusion in AI communities, particularly led by women and other minorities in the field. A selection of such initiatives is included in in the paper, the earliest being WiML (Women in Machine Learning), established in the same year as the paper’s analysis begins, 2007. For the full analysis, read the paper https://lnkd.in/ddpp5iS5 And explore the data in our new dashboard https://lnkd.in/dHTEPu8T With Lorenzo Porcaro, Pedro Frau and João Vinagre at #humaint #ECAT European Commission EU Science, Research and Innovation

Join us next week as we discuss Gender, MERL and AI!

🚨 The Stakes Are Higher Than You Think 🚨 In Issue 1 of She Is AI, Dr. Nici Sweaney’s powerful article, “The 7 Ways AI is Screwing Over Women”, unpacks the urgent realities of how unchecked AI could deepen gender inequality. Here are the key points:🔎 Women Aren’t Building AI: With less than 30% of machine learning specialists being women, biases are built into systems without female perspectives. Biased Training Data: AI trained on biased data perpetuates stereotypes and limits opportunities. Access Inequality: Women face an 8% gender gap in internet use, with men twice as likely to engage with AI tools. Job Automation Risks: Women’s jobs are 40% more at risk of being automated compared to men’s. Gendered Career Pathways: AI influences career paths, often pushing women towards more traditional roles. Deepfake Harms: 100% of top deepfake pornography sites target women, threatening safety and autonomy. Vicious Cycle of Bias: Generative AI primarily learns from male users, reinforcing biases. 💡 Why It Matters: These aren’t just technical issues; they shape our future. Without action, we risk widening gender inequality and losing the potential for AI to serve everyone inclusively. ✨ Dr. Sweaney’s Call to Action: Educate yourself, question biases, amplify your voice, and push for diversity in AI. AI has the potential to be a force for good—let’s make sure it is. Want to dive deeper into how we can reshape AI for the better? Dr. Nici Sweaney will be speaking at Australia’s AI Month 2024 on the panel “Hacking the System: How AI Can Rewrite the Rules for Gender Equity.” Join this conversation with global women leaders in AI for insights on building a future where AI empowers rather than excludes. 📅 Event Details: https://buff.ly/3Z0SXMn 🌟 About Dr. Nici Sweaney: Dr. Nici Sweaney is the founder of Ai Her Way, a consultancy dedicated to empowering women through AI. Through personalized consultancy services, workshops, and the AI First Leaders Academy, she equips women leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools to revolutionize their businesses and reclaim their time. Dr. Sweaney’s mission is to make AI accessible and empower women to harness its potential for positive change. 🔗 Want to take control of your future? Visit buff.ly/48GPPsf to learn more and book a free consultation. Subscribe to She Is AI Magazine to catch Dr. Sweaney’s upcoming article in Issue 2, releasing this January! https://buff.ly/4ea2Dcc #SheIsAI #WomenInAI #EthicalAI #GenderEquality #AILeadership

🎄 Advent Reflections: Day 10 🎄 Who Gets to Be “Technical”? Last night, 9 PM UK time, after watching my daughter’s school carol service, dinner, and catching up with family, I settled down—not to watch or read, but to attend a session of the global chapter of #BlackWomen in Women in AI Governance™ (WiAIG) led by the inspiring Anastasia Boone Talton 💡 This incredible group brought their insights and experiences to the table. Among the rich discussions, one phrase stood out: #nottechnicalenough. It struck a chord. How often do we hear this phrase used to silence, exclude, or diminish someone’s voice? Yet it lingers in so many conversations about technology, leadership, and AI governance. 🧩 After reflecting on the discussion, I realized: Being “technical enough” is often less about skills and more about gatekeeping. Why Is AI Different Now? ⚙️ AI isn’t new—but its scale and integration are. It powers hiring decisions, shapes healthcare access, and predicts legal outcomes. When governed purely from a technical perspective, these systems risk: 😣Reinforcing Biases: Facial recognition misidentifies dark-skinned individuals up to 100 times more often than lighter-skinned individuals, leading to false arrests. 😩Excluding Marginalized Groups: Healthcare algorithms often benefit wealthier populations. Black patients, for example, are less likely to be identified for advanced care despite greater health needs. 🙇🏾♀️Overlooking Societal Impacts: AI recruitment tools have shown systemic gender biases, ranking male applicants higher for technical roles. 🌍 These examples highlight why we must move beyond a narrow, technical-only view. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a societal force. Its governance requires diverse perspectives. Why Multi-Disciplinary AI Governance Matters 📚 Governance must include voices from: •Ethics and Philosophy: To question what should be done, not just what can be done. •Social Sciences: To understand AI’s cultural and societal impacts. •Policy and Law: To ensure regulations protect people while fostering innovation. This isn’t about sidelining technical expertise—it’s about technical diversity. AI’s greatest strength is its ability to unify technology with human needs, but only if we create systems that balance both. Spaces That Lead the Way 💬 This is why groups like Women in AI Governance™ (WiAIG) #WomenInTech Women in Data® and #WomenInAI are critical. These spaces amplify diverse voices, challenge outdated notions of “technical,” and ensure more inclusive conversations. Reflection Question 💡 Have you ever felt excluded because someone decided you weren’t “technical enough”? How do we create spaces where every voice is valued and heard? Let’s remind ourselves: The future of AI doesn’t just need better technology—it needs better conversations. #AdventReflections #LeadershipInTech #AIandHumanity #TechnicalDiversity

These stats honestly shocked me. As a female marketing leader and someone who is representing AI that supports administrative and customer service roles (all female dominated positions), women actually have the opportunity to lead the adoption of Gen AI tools. My personal experience is that AI won't replace us, but it will shift our focus — and that's a good thing. My team of women uses AI daily (see comments for examples)! 👇 I'm interested to know how others are using AI in your roles?