Women Face Job Risk With Less Representation As AI Progresses

New Delhi: The underrepresentation of women in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a significant risk of perpetuating the prevailing societal biases into future technologies, according to a top Microsoft executive.

Himani Agrawal, Chief Partner Officer, Microsoft India and South Asia, believes that inclusion is a shared responsibility and if AI continues to be shaped without diverse perspectives, the biases of today risk becoming hardwired into the technology of tomorrow. "This isn't just a number's problem; it's about the future we're building. If AI is shaping the world, then the people shaping AI need to reflect the world's diversity. Otherwise, the biases of today risk becoming hardwired into the technology of tomorrow. "That's why we need to start early -- sparking curiosity in young girls, strengthening mentorship networks, and ensuring women have the skills and leadership opportunities to drive AI forward," Agrawal said in a conversation with media. This holistic approach is crucial to address the "leaky pipeline", where entering the workforce and staying there can feel like an uphill task for many women, she added. This concern is particularly relevant as AI increasingly shapes various aspects of life, from healthcare and finance to education and employment. An AI trained primarily on data reflecting existing societal imbalances could perpetuate those very imbalances, creating a feedback loop of bias. She shared that women comprise 31.6 per cent of Microsoft's core workforce, and the company is actively working towards better inclusion.