The Women in AI You Never Knew Were Controlling the Narrative
As TechCrunch launches its latest series of interviews, we’re about to blow the lid off the AI revolution and reveal the secret forces driving its evolution. And by "secret forces," we mean the women who are quietly shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Meet Sarah Bitamazire, the chief policy officer at Lumiera, a boutique advisory firm that’s been making waves in the AI industry. With a background in policy advising and a passion for gender equality, Sarah is the perfect example of the women who are changing the game.
The Rise of the AI Illuminati
When asked how she got her start in AI, Sarah revealed that it found her. "AI has been having an increasingly large impact in sectors that I have been deeply involved in," she said. "Understanding the value of AI and its challenges became imperative for me to be able to offer sound advice to high-level decision-makers."
But what about the men who are dominating the AI industry? Sarah has a few choice words for them. "The challenges that exist are huge, and we all need to collaborate," she said. "I don’t think it’s about men or women; it’s about people who are passionate about solving problems."
The Women Who Are Redefining AI
Sarah’s work at Lumiera has been focused on helping clients integrate AI into their research and development work streams. "We recently worked with a client that had tried and failed to integrate AI into their research and development work streams," she said. "Lumiera set up an AI integration strategy with a roadmap tailored to their specific needs and challenges."
But what about the women who are working in AI? Sarah has some advice for them. "Getting into AI is like learning a new language, or learning a new skill set," she said. "It has immense potential to solve challenges in various sectors. What problem do you want to solve? Find out how AI can be a solution, and then focus on solving that problem."
The Dark Side of AI
Of course, AI isn’t without its challenges. Sarah identified several pressing issues facing the industry, including AI hardware and geopolitics, AI benchmarks, and data quality and governance. "Where is the good data?!" she asked. "Data flows in, throughout, and out of organizations every second. If that data is poorly governed, your organization will not benefit from AI, point blank."
But what about the users of AI? Sarah has some words of warning for them. "Algorithms and data are not perfect," she said. "As a user, it is important to be critical and not blindly trust the output, especially if you are using technology straight off the shelf."
The Future of AI
So what does the future hold for AI? Sarah predicts that public sector investment in AI hardware will increase, and that the industry will need to focus on balance automation with human oversight. "Believe it or not, over-automation is a thing," she said. "Decisions require human judgment, intuition, and contextual understanding. This cannot be replicated through automation."
And what about investors? Sarah has some advice for them. "Investors can push for responsible AI by looking at indicators of responsible AI leadership and use," she said. "A clear AI strategy, dedicated responsible AI resources, published responsible AI policies, strong governance practices, and integration of human reinforcement feedback are factors to consider."
In conclusion, the future of AI is being shaped by women like Sarah Bitamazire, who are quietly revolutionizing the industry. So the next time you hear someone talking about AI, remember: it’s not just about the tech – it’s about the people behind it.
