Hello friends, I am thrilled to share with you my today's muse. This post was motivated while engaging in some tech debate with a friends. One of the queried why an artificial intelligence (AI) image generator kept creating an image with a woman each time he queried, except he specified the gender needed. I told him that AI systems already recognizes the long-existing biases in the world and how it's affecting the tech space.
After the heated argument, I had to make some research on the contributions of women in AI development and I was awed at the outcome. There is no doubt that women have moved from Bias to Brilliance towards shaping the the future of AI. I am glad to highlight a few of many women whose head are standing tall in the committee of AI experts and contributors. Yours truly is also finding the AI space interesting and I think there is enough resources there that could reshape my art and content creation career.
Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize industries, drive innovation, and solve complex problems. However, the field has faced criticism for perpetuating biases, particularly gender biases, which can lead to significant societal implications.
Addressing the Gender Bias in AI
Women in AI are at the forefront of addressing these issues and are instrumental in transforming the landscape of AI from bias-ridden to brilliant. Bias in AI arises when the data used to train algorithms reflects existing prejudices and inequalities. This can result in AI systems that unfairly discriminate against certain groups. Women researchers and ethicists in AI are pioneering efforts to combat these biases.
1. Chinasa T. Okolo - AI Policy and Ethics Advisor
Chinasa T. Okolo, a fellow at the Brookings Institution in the Center of Technology Innovation’s Governance Studies program, has been at the fore front of researching the impact of AI on the Global South. Dr. Okolo holds a Ph.D in computer science from Cornell University. She has served on the ethics and social impact committee that helped develop Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and has served as an AI policy and ethics advisor for various organizations, including the Africa Union Development Agency and the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute.
2. Miriam Vogel, CEO od EqualAI
Miriam Vogel is a strong advocate of responsible AI. She is the CEO of EqualAI, a nonprofit organization created to reduce unconscious bias in AI and promote responsible AI governance. She also serves as chair to the recently launched National AI Advisory Committee, mandated by Congress to advise President Joe Biden and the White House on AI policy, and teaches technology law and policy at Georgetown University Law Center. With her background in law and legal matters, Vogel served as a board member at the Responsible AI Institute and senior advisor to the Center for Democracy and Technology, where she advised White House leadership on initiatives ranging from women, economic, regulatory and food safety policy to matters of criminal justice.
3. Eva Maydell - Member of European Parliament and EU AI Act adviser
Eva Maydell is a Bulgarian politician and a member of European Parliament. She was first elected to Parliament in 2014 at age 28, as the youngest member serving at the time and re-elected in 2019. While in the parliament, Maydell served on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). She was ITRE rapporteur for the EU AI Act, the proposed legal framework to govern the sale and use of AI in the European Union, and as such was in charge of drafting a report on the proposal of the European Commission — reflecting the opinion of ITRE members.
4. @Nancydominic - Artist, Content Creator and AI Enthusiast
Nancy Dominic is an artist, Affiliate marketer, chef and an emerging content creator on the Hive blockchain. She is an adept learner and an AI enthusiast. Her artistic skills is God-given, however, she is building on that skill on daily basis believing she would pioneer a brand that would be a go-to name in art. With a few experiences with AI apps for art creations and enhancements, Nancy Dominic believes that there is much in AI that can be harnessed for good living.
Her journey in the Hive blockchain has been an eye opener to the great potentials in emerging technology. She believes that there is much more we can do for humanity with technology if we acquire the right knowledge.
Conclusion
Women in AI bring diverse perspectives that are crucial for innovation. Their unique insights help ensure that AI technologies are designed to be inclusive and beneficial for all segments of society. Other notable names are:
(1) Fei-Fei Li, professor at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute
(2) Rana el Kaliouby: Co-founder and CEO of Affectiva
(3) Timnit Gebru, formerly of Google’s Ethical AI team
(4) Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League
Women are crucial to shaping the future of AI, addressing biases, and ensuring that this powerful technology benefits all of society. By breaking through barriers and bridging the gender gap, women in AI are driving innovation, promoting ethical standards, and inspiring future generations. Their contributions are transforming AI from a field riddled with biases to one that aspires to brilliance and inclusivity.
