As an Afrolatina woman with a degree in computer and electrical engineering, Maya de Los Santos hopes to defy trends by building a career in AI, a field dominated by white men.
AI needs her, experts and observers say.
Built-in perspectives and biases that unintentionally immerse their creators can put fast-growing digital tools at risk as they are used to make important decisions in areas such as the employment process, healthcare, finance, and law enforcement.
“I'm interested in a career in AI because I want to understand how marginalized communities can be protected from the risks and risks of AI, informed, and profit from it.”
“This inequity and bias that exists in society is replicated in the AI brought to very high stakes scenarios and the environment, and is trusted without more critical thinking.”
According to a UNESCO report, women represent 26% of the AI workforce, while men hold 80% of lifelong faculty members in university AI faculties around the world.
Georgetown University's 2022 census data analysis shows that blacks and Hispanics are also underestimated by the AI workforce.
Among the AI technical professions, Hispanics held about 9% of jobs, but that states, compared to holding more than 18% of U.S. jobs overall. Black workers held about 8% of technical AI jobs, which said compared to holding almost 12% of our jobs overall.
“
If people from a wider range of life experiences, identities and backgrounds help to shape AI, they are more likely to identify different needs, ask different questions, and apply AI in new ways.
Tess Posner, CEO, AI4All
