AI, Blockchain Industries Can Still Ensure Women Have Equal Footing
Women pursuing STEM careers not only have to clear a higher educational bar than their male counterparts, but, once employed, many are expected to settle for significantly less income than men.
However, thanks to the hyper-scaling of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, there may be an opportunity to flip that script. Because both AI and blockchain are still in their relatively early stages and continue to evolve daily, executives in those fields can take steps now to ensure that those industries both offer fair and equitable career paths.
Increasing Opportunities in Emerging Fields
Although AI and blockchain are already in widespread use, neither is bogged down with deeply entrenched gender bias. Not yet, anyway. Women entering these fields still have a chance to bring changes to the ground level.
Even though there is evidence of gender bias in AI, the industry is still new enough to course correct it.
Empowering Future Generations
By taking immediate steps to foster level playing fields in AI, industry executives, engineers and educators have an opportunity to design AI systems that are less biased and promote fairness in technology development. The more women who serve in backend development roles now, the greater the likelihood of the deployment of inclusive algorithms in the near term.
According to The AI Forward Alliance (TAIFA) TAIFA, bringing more women into AI now could “unlock a staggering $212 billion for the global economy.” But beyond generating revenue, including women in AI would mean more female role models and mentors that could also:
Inspire the next generation of STEM workers
Encourage greater economic independence for women
Help “normalize” women in tech leadership roles
The last bullet point is noteworthy. Data shows that when women lead in other industries, often the bottom line improves. Collectively, these changes could lead to cyclical empowerment that facilitates long-term changes across an array of workplace cultures.
Challenges Facing Women in AI & Blockchain
As mentioned, women in STEM fields are held to a higher standard than men when it comes to education. Addressing educational and training disparities will be essential to ensuring women can equally participate in AI and blockchain spaces.
AI systems can inadvertently amplify existing biases if biased data is at the root of a program. By ensuring women have a seat at the table, they can play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating such biases, ensuring technology development is inclusive and fair going forward.
Ensuring Women Have Equal Footing in Tech
Women in AI can leverage the technology to address issues that disproportionately affect women, such as healthcare access, education and economic empowerment, creating solutions that better address the needs of women and families.
Blockchain technology is already widely used in decentralized finance (DeFi), digital identity and supply chain management. Empowering women to lead in these areas could result in innovative solutions that cater to underbanked women while promoting social improvements across multiple industries. Many segments of the technology industry have long been plagued with complaints of gender bias. One 2024 study found that women make up only 35 percent of all STEM employees in the U.S.
Because we are still on the front end of the AI and blockchain revolutions, there is still time for women to step into emerging technology sectors and gain equal footing in those industries. By supporting initiatives that train and mentor women in both industries, we can ensure that technologies evolve in ways that help foster a more diverse, inclusive global population.
Contact Avestix to find out how we are working to ensure women have equal footing in new technologies.
