A Key Lesson about ‘AI for Good’
There have been many posts about the recently convened ‘AI for Good’ summit in Geneva, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union
I will post my observations and insights from meetings with all the amazing people I met there later but first I want to share a very important story.
I am not typically on the speaking circuits as Women in AI Ethics™ is a tiny donor-funded, volunteer-led organization, and we are not affiliated with any elite institution or high-profile global organization so being invited to speak at this summit was a bit surreal and a rare honor. I was on the train to Geneva and musing about what Women in AI Ethics™ presence represents at this summit and what is my role as the founder/ representative for this initiative. The answer presented itself unexpectedly.
A woman sitting across from me asked me a question about how to get to her destination. This was my first trip to Geneva but I said we would figure it out together and so we did. Her name is Fatoumata Yaffa. She left her home in Gambia at 18 and started working in France to make a better life for her family. She shared that they were poor and her mother has to go to the market every morning at 4a, to support her and her brothers. Fatoumata herself washed clothes for other immigrant families to make money. Everyone who knows Fatoumata says she is smarter than her older brother and she herself believes she is brave. I have no doubts about either.
As someone from a similarly underprivileged background, her story resonated with me deeply and the answer I was seeking is simply this — My/our role is to ensure that Fatoumata’s voice and perspective doesn’t get lost in the AI hype. The question we should be asking in every AI conversation is what opportunities and threats do these powerful technologies present for young girls and women like Fatoumata? Most importantly, how can we make sure AI resources and their benefits are not concentrated in an elite bubble but are accessible and distributed to women and young girls across all countries, regions, and socioeconomic backgrounds so they are not having to leave their families behind.
Many thanks to Fatoumata or (or Princess as her mother calls her) for sharing her story, which I shared with audience in Geneva. It was an honor to meet this brave young wise one! It was a much needed reminder of why I do what I do every single day Women in AI Ethics™.
Also, many thanks to Ursula Wynhoven for making my participation possible.
We will post her full story and interview on WAIE Instagram account soon!
