ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and WOMEN   

  

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have significantly accelerated human life, bringing about revolutionary changes in various sectors. These technologies persist in developing new processes to enhance productivity. In the current era, we believe artificial intelligence holds vast potential to unlock new avenues for tackling social inequalities between men and women. However, we acknowledge that harnessing this potential is not given but demands our full attention and careful consideration. It is crucial to remember that alongside its promise, artificial intelligence can also pose certain risks and present unforeseen challenges. Consequently, the future of artificial intelligence, encompassing both its transformative possibilities and inherent risks, stands as a paramount topic of discussion in contemporary discourse.

Adopting a holistic perspective is essential for comprehending the methods and stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of AI technologies. Active collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including AI developers and policymakers, is crucial for ensuring that AI technology advances in a more democratic, inclusive, and ethical manner. As a civil society organization dedicated to advancing women’s rights, KADEM, through its sixth Democracy and Women Summit, initiates a discussion on the strategic measures to leverage these technologies for creating an inclusive and sustainable world.

During our sixth summit, our objective is to engage in a comprehensive discussion on how the advancements in the era of artificial intelligence can contribute to a fairer and more equitable future for women. Through shared reflections on our experiences and ideas, we seek to deepen our understanding of women’s subjectivity, position, and rights in the age of AI. By fostering synergy in this context, our aim is to disseminate our calls to action and proposals for women’s empowerment. This summit will also serve as a platform to conduct advocacy activities addressing key concerns related to women and AI.

At our summit, our intention is to delve into the following pivotal questions: Can advancements in artificial intelligence technology pave the way for a more just and equitable future for women? What are the positive and negative repercussions of AI technologies and algorithms on women? Can AI generate novel gender norms or perpetuate existing ones? Alternatively, might AI offer a path towards more inclusive and impartial gender norms? Are the gender perspectives of AI developers and producers reflected in algorithms? Can we mitigate potential biases? What strategies can we employ to ensure that women are not only users but also equal co-creators in the development and application of future AI technologies? 

LIST OF SESSIONS

A.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, KNOWLEDGE GENERATION, AND ALGORITHMS

• The Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence: (Historical background, opportunities, crises, and future projections)

• Epistemic Injustice and the Possibility of Access to Knowledge Provided by Artificial Intelligence

• Knowledge Formation and the Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence

• Rethinking Epistemic Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

• Epistemic Inequality in AI-Generated Knowledge

Our comprehension of knowledge and reality is no longer perceived as an objective truth but rather as one influenced by cultural, social, linguistic, and power dynamics. Akin to the multifaceted construction of personal knowledge through individual perspectives, language, and societal norms, these very same elements exert a profound influence on the knowledge generated by artificial intelligence systems. These systems learn from existing knowledge and human interaction, mirroring the inherent biases in both. Algorithms, molded by designers’ views and values, can perpetuate sexist and discriminatory outputs, further magnified by biased usage patterns. This underscores the importance of prioritizing gender equality and inclusivity in AI design and implementation to prevent the perpetuation of epistemic and social injustices.

Feminist epistemology provides a crucial framework for comprehending the gendered nature of knowledge production in the AI age. By incorporating its principles, we can strive for a more equitable and inclusive knowledge landscape. This approach has the potential to empower historically marginalized groups, amplifying the perspectives of women, people with disabilities, and individuals of color.

Our session will explore best practices for identifying and eliminating biases in AI systems, addressing key questions such as: What fuels sexist and discriminatory algorithms, and how are they reinforced? What methods can detect and eliminate such biases? How can we prevent the monopolization and masculinization of knowledge and data? How can feminist epistemology guide the fight against AI-based biases?

B.ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND GENDER

• Artificial Intelligence and Gender Relations

• Human, Familial, and Social Relations in the Age of AI

• Artificial Intelligence: A New Actor in Family and Society

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human, Familial, and Social Relations

The influence of AI on human relations raises crucial questions. While AI’s potential to empower democratic processes and social inclusion is undeniable, its ability to exacerbate existing prejudices, inequalities, and hate speech is equally concerning. Content and discourse shaped by cultural codes and gender norms can significantly disadvantage women in the AI field, widening the existing opportunity gap and hindering fair representation. To address these challenges and ensure AI contributes to a more equitable future, we must approach AI algorithms and applications holistically.

This necessitates evaluating datasets and algorithms through a gender lens, embracing fair design principles, and implementing independent audits aligned with international standards. Only through these collective efforts can we unlock AI’s true potential to create a gender-equitable and inclusive future.

In the context of examining the connection between artificial intelligence and gender, this session will explore the following questions: What methods can be employed to identify and mitigate gender biases in AI algorithms? How do AI systems influence gender norms, and how can this influence be reshaped in support of gender justice? What measures should be implemented to guarantee gender equality in the development and implementation of AI systems?

C.ETHICAL DEBATES AND POLICY REGULATIONS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Ethics in the World of Artificial Intelligence (Equality, justice, accountability, and openness)

• Artificial Intelligence and Policy Making/Production

• Digital Justice: Artificial Intelligence’s Dilemma of Equality and Discrimination

• What Ethical Concerns Arise in Artificial Intelligence and Policymaking?

• Justice, Equality, Openness: Artificial Intelligence and Our Human Values

• Shaping the Future: The Importance of Artificial Intelligence Ethics

With technology’s growing complexity, AI has emerged, bringing a complex web of ethical concerns and challenges to the forefront. Central to these concerns are the biases and social discrimination embedded in the datasets that train AI algorithms. This issue is further amplified by the compatibility between AI’s decisions and actions and universal human rights, values, and ethical norms.

AI ethical regulations establish policies and rules outlining the principles and practices for developing, utilizing, and overseeing these systems. These regulations can be determined at various levels, including international organizations like the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), or at national and sectoral levels. The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act serves as a significant step in this direction.

Crucially, successful implementation requires the adoption of these regulations by developers, researchers, and users. Moreover, broad public engagement and open discussions are essential. This session delves into the ethical and public debates surrounding AI, focusing on key questions: What criteria should we use to identify and implement ethical values in AI system design? How can we establish oversight mechanisms to address ethical concerns arising from AI use? What strategies can ensure transparency and accountability in AI development and deployment? How can we consider cross-cultural differences when setting and developing universal ethical standards for AI? How can we raise awareness to increase women’s representation and gains in defining these standards for AI technologies?

D. IMPLICATIONS OF AI ON WOMEN’S WELLFARE

• Artificial Intelligence and Women Employment

• Artificial Intelligence and Women’s Well-Being

• Improving Women’s Well-Being in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

• Artificial Intelligence: New Horizons for Women’s Well-Being

AI presents exciting new horizons for women in both their professional and personal lives, offering significant opportunities across a range of fields, from education and business to healthcare and security. In healthcare, for example, AI technologies play a critical role in women’s health monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment, paving the way for more effective and personalised care. Similarly, in education, AI has the potential to increase women’s access to learning and ensure equal opportunities through educational learning platforms and student support systems. By addressing inequalities and expanding opportunities, AI can also empower women in the business world, facilitating career development and enhancing their professional interactions.

However, ensuring that these opportunities translate into tangible benefits for women requires careful consideration. AI systems within security and privacy domains, for instance, should be meticulously designed to be sensitive and protective of women’s well-being. When developed responsibly, AI-based security systems have the potential to significantly enhance women’s physical and digital safety.

To realise the full potential of AI for women’s well-being, tackling gender inequalities within the sector and increasing women’s employment in AI-related fields are crucial priorities. This session will delve into these crucial issues, exploring the opportunities AI offers for women’s well-being and the impact of women’s employment in AI on both the sector and society at large. We will address key questions such as: How can AI help women access healthcare and education services more effectively? How can AI mitigate the challenges women face in the workplace and contribute to their career development? How can AI applications in security and privacy enhance women’s physical and digital safety? What steps can be taken to ensure greater representation of women in decision-making positions within the AI field?                                                 

E.DEMOCRATIC ADVOCACY AND RIGHTS-BASED ACTIVISM

• Democratic Advocacy in Artificial Intelligence: For an Inclusive and Just Future

• Democratic Advocacy in Artificial Intelligence: Diversity, Inclusion and Equality

The design, use, and oversight of AI systems must align with democratic values. This is crucial to prevent perpetuating biases and inequalities present in the datasets used to train AI models. Lack of diversity, inclusivity, and representation of disadvantaged groups, coupled with monopolistic and hegemonic decision-making, can lead to hierarchical and discriminatory AI outcomes.

Mitigating issues like injustice, one-sidedness, and oversimplification in AI requires processing comprehensive and reliable data, alongside developing well-founded discourses and practices within the field. In this context, social participation and feedback play a vital role in shaping AI systems. Specifically, democratic solutions are needed to address challenges faced by women in AI, including access barriers, educational and employment inequalities, professional network limitations, restricted funding opportunities, and gender biases.

This session will explore democratic advocacy in AI through the following questions: How can democratic advocacy, diversity, and participatory decision-making processes be more effectively integrated into the design of AI systems? What are the obstacles to shaping a democratic model that represents all segments of society in the development of AI technology? What policies can be developed to ensure women’s fair and equal participation in the production and use of AI? What initiatives can encourage and support girls to enter the field of artificial intelligence?

F.WOMEN WHO INSPIRE

• Technofeminism: Can Gender Equality be Attained with Artificial Intelligence?

• Women’s Empowerment in the Realm of Artificial Intelligence: Experiences, Opportunities, and Support Networks

This session endeavors to catalyze an increase in female participation within the burgeoning field of AI. By disseminating the experiences of trailblazing women leaders in the field through open dialogue, the session will illuminate the challenges faced by women pursuing AI careers and explore viable strategies for overcoming them. Additionally, the session will engage in constructive discourse surrounding actionable steps towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable AI ecosystem for women in the future. Participants will have the opportunity to meet inspiring women, receive guidance, and establish connections for future collaborations.