The Imperative of Diversity and Inclusion in the Ai Industry, and why I’ve said “no” today.

We see different colours when light is refracted through different lenses.

For a long time now there have been a lot of open, vocal discussions about the need for diversity in the voices and creators of Ai and open-data-driven products. Often dismissed as box-ticking, or at worst a distraction from innovation and progress, it’s worth resetting the perspective before I go into a decision I made today, and calling out why I’ve made it.

In the rapidly evolving space of smarter-technology and artificial intelligence (Ai), inclusive views and inclusive data have emerged as pivotal factors that will shape the industry’s growth, ethical standards, and societal impact. Artificial Intelligence isn’t Auto-Magic, it’s opinions embedded and amplified by code. Full-stop. Take something you want sped-up or automated, run it through rapidly repeating, learning and improving algorithms, and it spits out a point-of-view in words, actions, pictures, videos, or analysis form.

Anybody who tries to over-complicate it as more than that is selling you smoke.

Ai outputs are just opinions embedded in, and amplified by code.

But even today, on this very morning, I was faced with one of the most striking issues in the Artificial Intelligence and data industry; The genuine lack of diversity in its roots. Women and underrepresented minorities are significantly lacking in conversations and roles, with the majority of employees being white and male — People like me. This lack of diversity in the workforce has led to a narrow range of perspectives and ideas, stifling innovation and creativity, and reducing critical thinking around the potential harms.

We need the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science corner of the technology industry to benefit humankind, with a diverse set of inputs, and a workforce that encompasses a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. What goes in comes out amplified by magnitudes beyond comprehension, so getting that input right is crucial.

Why I’ve abstained from judging todays Industry Awards

I was due to go and judge the Ai, Data and Web3 category of a high-profile industry awards today; A benchmark of the way the industry is using, creating, and improving services using this occasionally controversial emerging technology. I made a mistake and that’s totally on me… I didn’t ask for the list of judges. I would highly recommend always asking for the list of the judges in your category if you volunteer, or are asked to do these things.

I’d forgotten to do that and when I asked for it yesterday and received it today I was really saddened to see a list that I can only describe as the stereotypical ‘manel’. All brilliant people, and I would never discredit the group of minds being assembled, but with just one female in a group of all men it just made me really sad and uncomfortable. Mainly sad. A little bit angry. But a lot of sad.

This is not how to live the values we need to see in the industry.

Getting that room of people right today sparks innovation in the conversation, critical analysis of the entries, and creates a spark to ignite the embers of analysis on what these entries truly mean for the people they affect. It’s not about how good the agency is, it’s about how the technology impacts things.

When individuals from different gender, cultural, educational, and experiential backgrounds collaborate, they bring unique ideas and perspectives to the judging table. In Artificial Intelligence, this diversity of thought is essential for creating and amplifying groundbreaking solutions, pushing the boundaries of what the technology will eventually achieve, and addressing complex challenges. How can you judge that if you can’t even get the right people in the room to debate it? We have an obligation to do it from the right grounding, or it’s broken from the beginning.

I also want to highlight that shining a light on this isn’t to be disruptive, or upset the organisers. Or even look for a pat on the back, it’s about our entire industry setting an example for other sectors. By championing equal opportunities and fair representation, the digital and technology industry can inspire positive change in other tech-related fields and across society as a whole.

We have to do better at every level. We all have to make ourselves accountable.

Here are my six key areas that I believe we need to address immediately to stop the world being formed in the image of the tech-bro:

1. Homogeneity in the groups of people making the decisions.
2. Unequal access to opportunities (and that doesn’t mean NOT employing or including men in the conversations or opportunities, it means get your blend right.)
3. Algorithmic bias and discrimination from those decision making technologies. Ask the right questions about “how” it’s working.
4. Hostile work environments. It’s a thing. A big thing. I’m currently very lucky to work in an environment, with a company that puts a lot of weight on making the environment we work in balanced. Most aren’t.
5. Resistance to change. If someone tells you this stuff is just box-ticking or they are just box ticking, tell them they’re wrong.
6. Tokenism and superficial measures. Don’t say it. Do it. Opt out, abstain, call it out. Be the change.

I’ll start by extracting myself from todays judging to support number 1 and 6 in my list, and I’m calling out the situation as unacceptable to be part of.

I would also encourage anybody entering awards, or taking part in events or conferences to ask the difficult questions of the organisers. Who’s speaking? Who’s judging? Who is ultimately representing ‘us’? How did they make the decision? Was it fair? Was my voice heard? You all have your role to play in solving this issue too.

My industry friends and colleagues, diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords for the technology making sector; they are essential ingredients for its success, ethics, and wider societal impact. A diverse group of people helps foster innovation, address biases, and develop opinions that are more ethical, fair, and relevant to a diverse global population. I founded, and chaired the Ai Think Tank that inspired this particular industry award in 2017 on those principles, and I still stand by them.

Even something as seemingly benign as a judging panel needs to be looking at what’s been made and judge it on ethical standards through its own diverse views. You can’t do that when you all think the same way.

In conclusion, the current state of diversity in the Ai and data industry is deeply concerning. The lack of diversity stifles innovation, perpetuates biases, and contributes to the development of technologies that reinforce societal inequalities. Addressing this issue is not just a matter of ethics but is also essential for the industry’s long-term success and relevance. It requires a concerted effort from both industry leaders and policymakers to break down barriers, promote inclusivity, and create an industry that truly reflects the diverse world it serves. Failure to do so risks not only the industry’s integrity but also the well-being of society as a whole.