Recently, on LinkedIn, I sparked a conversation about a glaring oversight in a list published by The New York Times focusing on artificial intelligence. This list, intended to highlight key contributors in the AI field, failed to recognize any female experts. This omission is not just a missed opportunity; it's a reflection of a persistent, troubling trend in our field.
For over half a century, women have been integral to the development and evolution of AI, contributing groundbreaking research and innovative applications. Their absence from such a prominent list is more than just an oversight; it's a symbol of the biases that continue to plague the tech industry, particularly in AI.
As a product design engineer in AI and Product Design, I find this lapse both disheartening and alarming. It's not just about giving credit where it's due; it's about providing role models for future generations, ensuring diverse perspectives in developing technology, and accurately documenting the history of AI. Ignoring the contributions of women in AI is not just an issue of fairness; it's a matter of historical accuracy and ethical reporting.
In response to this, I've taken the initiative to develop a video guide that highlights the women who have made significant contributions to AI. These women, often unsung heroes in the field, have laid the groundwork upon which we build today's AI innovations. It's time we recognize their achievements and ensure their stories are told.
This issue goes beyond mere recognition. It speaks to the heart of how we perceive and understand AI development. By excluding women from these narratives, we risk perpetuating gender biases and losing out on the rich, diverse perspectives that are crucial for the ethical and effective development of AI technologies.
It's essential for media outlets, especially those with a national audience like The New York Times, to take responsibility for their role in shaping public perception. We must challenge these oversights and advocate for a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of AI's history and future. It's not just about correcting a list; it's about reshaping the narrative of AI to include all those who have contributed to its advancement.
Here’s a diverse list of women in Ai, that paved the way to the present, but also a number of them who are shaping our Ai future:
Ada Lovelace
Dr. Grace Murray Hopper
Kathleen Booth
Evelyn Boyd Granville
Jean E. Sammet
Adele Goldberg
Karen Spärck Jones
Barbara Grosz
Elaine Rich
Anita Borg
Cynthia Breazeal
Justine Cassell
Rosalind Picard
Daphne Koller
Manuela Veloso
Dr Fei-Fei Li
Maja Matarić
Joanna Peña-Bickley
Dr. Joy Buolamwini
Kate Crawford
Nina Rolle
Miriam Daniel
Michelle Lalljie
Priya Abani
Sahana Arani
Lacie Williams
Meredith Whittaker
Dina Katabi
Suchi Saria
Bethany Bongiorno
I encourage you to follow them. This list is not exhaustive so I encourage you to add the women in all the fields of #Ai (eg. #ML, #Robotics, #NLP, #NLU, #LLM) that influence you. If you want to see more women in AI make a donation to the Design Corps: https://designedbyus.org/donate, we are training women and minorities through Ai literacy programs.