Enfuse Group Women Leaders Forum: Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI
Earlier this year, Enfuse Group set up its internal Women Leaders Forum, in order to support, educate and inspire our women consultants through networking opportunities and events. It was recently launched to much enthusiasm at our inaugural event, a fascinating panel discussion on the ethics of AI, a hugely relevant topic to start off our series.
The panel discussion was moderated by Sam Neblett, an experienced Enfuse Group consultant with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We were also honoured to have some incredible panellists join us – all leading experts in the field – who provided valuable insights and perspectives on responsible AI, diversity, gender bias, and the regulatory challenges faced by technology companies.
Toju Duke, a renowned author, speaker, thought leader and responsible AI consultant, highlighted the challenges - and benefits - that AI offers us. As the Founder of Diverse AI, a not-for-profit organization committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive AI future, her expertise offered valuable practical guidance to the audience. As a Programme Manager at Google, Toju also leads various Responsible AI initiatives across Google's product and research teams.
"We get AI summers where investors see the potential of AI. I believe we're in one now and it's a summer that's going to last some time. People can see the benefits"
Toju Duke
Oriana Medlicott, leading AI Ethics strategy within the Technology Strategy Unit at Fujitsu, emphasized the significance of using terms such as “Trusted AI” or "Responsible AI" to shape the ethical discourse. With a background in Philosophy and a Master's degree exploring the Ethics of AI, as well as Co-Founding and Co-Hosting the Let’s Chat Ethics podcast, Oriana provided a deeper understanding of the ethical implications we face.
“People are getting away from the word “ethics” which implies a moral code and has different cultural meanings. The phrases “Trusted AI” and “Responsible AI” are becoming much more commonplace, as we’re now putting it out there that companies need to take responsibility”
Oriana Medlicott
Leanne Linacre, Co-founder and CEO of Lead5050, a company dedicated to closing the gender diversity and pay gap in organizations worldwide, addressed the pervasive issue of gender bias in AI. Leanne stressed the need for diversity and a human-centric approach to mitigate biases perpetuated by AI systems and highlighted the urgency of addressing these biases through conscious efforts.
"Gender bias is everywhere, from virtual assistants having a female voice and a woman's name to the default GIFs being male. We need diversity and we need a human centric approach, so the situation doesn't perpetuate. It’s not AI's fault, it’s because there was no one checking it”
Leanne Linacre
Tracey Jessup, Chief Transformation Officer of De Montfort University and former Chief Digital and Information Officer of the UK Parliament, shared insights into the regulatory challenges surrounding AI. Tracey emphasised that regulations often lag behind technological advancements, making it crucial for companies to take the lead in implementing responsible AI practices. She also highlighted the risks associated with unforeseen use cases and the need for developers to consider the potential unintended consequences of their technologies.
“The regulations are always behind, because the technology is always in front. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have regulations, but the emphasis needs to be on companies to do this themselves"
Tracey Jessup
Throughout the panel discussion, the audience gained valuable perspectives on responsible AI practices, diversity, gender bias, and the ever-changing regulatory landscape of AI. The thought-provoking, yet often humorous, conversations emphasized the importance of ethical considerations and the need for companies to take proactive steps to ensure responsible and inclusive AI development.
Our commitment to creating a supportive and inspiring environment for our women consultants was evident in the success of this event. By bringing together experts, colleagues, clients and industry professionals, the Women Leaders Forum has already proven itself to have a positive impact on our staff, and we are excited to host similar events in future.
