GWA Shanghai Event Recap Shifting Codes: Dismantling Gender Bias in AI
On April 18th, Global Women Asia held our offline event in China with Bessie Lee, Greater China CEO, JLL and host of Beiwanglu 贝望录 podcast. Global Women Asia 2023 Fellows Olivia Plotnick and Milawen Ding hosted the event at the office of Gusto Collective in Jing’An, Shanghai.
The fireside chat brought to light various facets of AI bias and the societal stereotypes that perpetuate them. Bessie articulated concerns that AI, while a modern frontier, mirrors our existing societal biases rather than eliminating them.
The central theme revolved around the nature of AI bias, notably how it manifests in everyday technologies like facial and voice recognition systems. Bessie highlighted a pervasive example in search engines that portray chief executive roles predominantly as male-dominated—a visual representation of gender disparity that is starkly misleading. The discussion underscored the importance of comprehensive and diversified data sets to train AI systems that do not perpetuate these biases.
Another significant point of discussion was the representation of women in the field of AI, where only a minor fraction are engaged, particularly at the higher echelons of its academia and industry. This lack of representation is a critical concern as it influences the programming and decision-making processes within AI technologies. Bessie laid out the case for increasing women's participation in STEM fields and AI to bring a broader perspective and inclusivity to technology.
The fireside chat also covered the challenges and potential solutions to these biases. Bessie suggested that every AI user has the power to influence AI learning outcomes by actively engaging with technology in ways that challenge existing biases. She called for a collective responsibility to foster an environment that encourages diverse data input into AI systems.
In conclusion, the event was a profound reminder of the work needed to address gender biases in AI and broader societal contexts. It urged an ongoing dialogue and proactive steps toward more equitable technological advancements. The conversation was not just about outlining the problems but also about envisioning a future where AI aids in overcoming societal biases, ensuring a balanced representation across all spectrums of gender and ethnicity.
As a community, through a combination of offline and online events, as well as an annual fellowship program, Global Women Asia is dedicated to emphasizing the role of women and their allies in driving prosperity and innovation in all industries. Stay tuned as we prepare to announce our upcoming 2024 Women in STEM Fellows and host more timely, thought-provoking events with leading experts worldwide.
Global Women Asia would like to extend our gratitude to Bessie Lee for her time and support, as well as Gusto Collective, for providing a venue to host the event, the UN Global Shapers Shanghai Community for volunteering during the event to help with set-up and check-in, and the photographer Graeme Kennedy for capturing the evening.
