Women Redefining the Future of Generative AI: Breaking Barriers and Driving Innovation

Breaking Barriers, Building AI - Here's How Women Are Redefining GenAI

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has entered a phase of rapid development within the last several years and is already proving to be a challenger for some sectors, making it unsurpassed in its capabilities. What earlier was an automation tool is now an all-important collaborator. This year, global technology giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta will invest over billion in AI-related capital expenditures, reflecting the strategic role that AI plays in the companies' offerings. However, this significant evolution in GenAI has been bolstered not only by advancing technology but with a reflection of the most diverse, imaginative minds driving its future forward. GenAI's evolution takes on the perspectives and values of people behind its developments. And here in this journey, women will take lead and charge not only as participants but even as full-fledged principals, innovators, and changers: powerhouses of ethical considerations, innovation, and strategies for inclusion, and the impact is already glaring! For instance, an outstanding example to follow was her, Mira Murati, who was previously the CTO of OpenAI. In 2024, she launched Thinking Machines Lab-a startup that services transforming AI systems into highly accessible and customizable platforms. The speed at which the company got attention is staggering, achieving an estimated value of within one year of operation. Innovations like these portray the influential niches women can occupy in leadership with regards to steering advancement in tandem with societal need.

Breaking Barriers, Building AI - Here's How Women Are Redefining GenAI

By Joseph Sudheer Thumma Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has made remarkable advancements in recent years, fundamentally revolutionizing sectors through its unmatched capabilities. What initially served as an automation tool has now become an indispensable collaborator. Global tech giants Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta plan to invest over $320 billion in AI-related capital expenditures this year. This adoption underscores the strategic importance of AI in their business models. However, this substantial evolution of GenAI is not solely about its technological progress but also about the diverse, creative minds propelling it forward. GenAI's growth reflects the perspectives and values of the people behind its developments. And in this journey, women have emerged as a driving force, not merely as participants, but as true leaders, innovators, and changemakers. They are driving ethical considerations, innovation, and inclusive practices, and the impact we are witnessing is remarkable! For instance, Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, sets a perfect example. In 2024, she launched Thinking Machines Lab - a startup that focuses on reshaping AI systems to make them more accessible and customizable. It's incredible how quickly the company garnered attention, obtaining a valuation of approximately $9 billion within its first year. Innovations like these illustrate the influential roles of women in leadership in steering these advancements ahead in alignment with societal needs. Pioneering the Next Era in GenAI Women in tech are redefining what's possible through GenAI. By embedding inclusivity into the core of AI, they are tackling biases, refining algorithms, and expanding its real-world applications. For instance, Geetha Manjunath, the founder and CEO of NIRAMAI Health Analytix, is leveraging AI to detect breast cancer. Using thermal imaging and AI algorithms, her innovation offers a radiation-free alternative to mammograms, addressing critical barriers to screenings in India. This is just one example of how women are adopting GenAI to solve pressing global challenges. Guardians of Ethical AI As GenAI's influence expands, the responsibility to maintain its ethical integrity rises alongside it. Women are leading this charge, upholding transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI. From addressing algorithmic bias to reducing AI-generated misinformation, they are ensuring that responsibility remains central to GenAI's evolution. Women leaders like Rumman Chowdhury are making strides in the space of ethical AI. As the former director of Twitter's Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability (META) team, she spearheaded initiatives to audit and mitigate AI bias. She later founded Parity, an AI governance platform that helps organizations deploy ethical AI solutions, ensuring fairness and accountability in automated decision-making. Her intelligence illustrates how women in tech are reimagining AI to be more equitable, responsible, and well-aligned with societal needs. Leading with Vision and Empathy Women leaders in India are significantly reshaping the culture of tech organizations by advocating for diversity, inclusivity, and ethical AI development. Their leadership fosters environments where empathy and collaboration drive innovation, addressing unconscious biases that can infiltrate algorithms. Anima Anandkumar, a distinguished Indian-American computer scientist and Bren Professor at Caltech, formerly led Machine Learning Research at NVIDIA. A strong advocate for diversity in tech, she has spearheaded petitions to end gender segregation in admissions and pushed for better campus security and alumni engagement. She has also openly addressed workplace harassment, driving systemic change for safer, more inclusive spaces in the industry. Her leadership exemplifies how women in top organizations are embedding inclusivity and ethics into tech, shaping a more responsible and forward-thinking future. Educators, Mentors, and Advocates Beyond their direct contributions to GenAI, women are also paving the way for future generations. By mentoring young professionals and supporting STEM education for girls, they are advocating for policies that promote diversity in tech. Their efforts are breaking down barriers and ensuring that AI's future is shaped by a wide range of voices. In addition, they are creating networks of support to make the AI industry more accessible and welcoming for women entering the field. Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM, exemplifies this commitment to diversity and inclusion. As the first woman to lead NASSCOM in its three-decade history, she has been a strong advocate for gender diversity in the workplace. Under her leadership, NASSCOM has focused on initiatives aimed at increasing women's participation in STEM careers, fostering mentorship programs, and promoting workplace policies that support women in tech. Ghosh's efforts are shaping an ecosystem where women are empowered to lead, innovate, and thrive in AI and technology. The Future of GenAI is Inclusive The influence of women in GenAI represents a fundamental shift in how this technology is being built, adopted, and implemented. Their leadership and innovation are ensuring that AI evolves in a way that benefits everyone, not just a privileged few. As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, the voices and contributions of women will remain indispensable. By driving change, breaking barriers, and fostering inclusivity, they are proving that the future of AI is not only intelligent but also equitable, ethical, and empowering for all. (The author is Joseph Sudheer Thumma, Global CEO & MD, Magellanic Cloud, and the views expressed in this article are his own)

Insights: Addressing the gender gap in GenAI

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the global economy, ensuring that women are not only participants but leaders in this transformation is both an economic necessity and a strategic imperative. Accelerate Action, the International Women's Day 2025 theme, reflects calls for urgent and decisive steps toward gender equality across all sectors. Nowhere is this more critical than in the fast-evolving domain of generative AI (GenAI), which is reshaping industries through automation, enhanced decision-making, and new creative possibilities. In 2024, the UAE saw an increase of over 900 per cent in GenAI enrollments, reflecting a significant surge in demand for AI skills. This growth aligns with that of the UAE's GenAI market, which is projected to expand between 2025 and 2030 at an annual rate of 41.5 per cent, reaching a market volume of over $2bn by 2030. The UAE's rapid AI expansion is also reflected in its ranking among the 10 countries with the highest number of AI companies per capita, highlighting the nation's growing leadership in the sector. As the UAE strengthens its position as an AI leader, ensuring equitable access to AI education and career opportunities is critical -- especially for women, who must not only adapt to change but drive it. GenAI and women While the transformative potential of GenAI is undeniable, its rapid adoption also raises concerns about workforce displacement, particularly among women. A study by IBM found that 46 per cent of women worry about being replaced by AI, compared to 37 per cent of men. Without targeted efforts to bridge this divide, women risk being disproportionately affected by AI-driven automation rather than positioned to lead and benefit from its advancements. This disparity is compounded by gaps in GenAI upskilling. Despite the UAE's strong commitment to STEM education -- where women account for 56 per cent of STEM graduates at government universities -- female participation in GenAI remains significantly lower. Women currently represent 32 per cent of global GenAI enrollments on Coursera, and in the UAE, that number is even lower at 23.8 per cent. While the country has taken positive steps toward equitable representation in STEM, the GenAI gender gap remains a pronounced challenge. This underrepresentation is not due to a lack of interest or ability but systemic barriers that hinder women's participation. Gender stereotypes, limited mentorship opportunities, and a lack of awareness about GenAI's relevance to their lives all contribute to this disparity. Only 36 per cent of women believe GenAI can advance their careers, compared to 45 per cent of men, according to Cognizant. Without targeted interventions, these gaps will persist, limiting not only women's opportunities but also AI's potential to serve society equitably. The UAE's National Strategy for AI 2031 emphasises the importance of women taking an active role in shaping AI's future, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. However, with AI expected to contribute $96bn to the UAE's GDP by 2030, increasing female participation in GenAI is not just about equity -- it's a key driver for stronger economic growth. By stepping into leadership roles, women can help shape AI's future in ways that drive both innovation and inclusivity. Overcoming barriers, closing the gender gap One of the primary barriers to women's participation in GenAI is the persistence of stereotypes that shape perceptions of who belongs in technology fields. Cultural messaging from an early age often discourages girls from pursuing STEM subjects, leading to lower representation in higher education and careers. Encouraging early engagement through AI-focused curricula in schools can help dismantle these biases and foster greater female inclusion in technology. With online learning, we already see that despite lower enrollment rates, women are developing skills at a faster pace than their male counterparts. This offers hope that expanded access to online learning can help bridge skills gaps and accelerate women's advancement in the workplace. Confidence gaps also pose a significant challenge. Women often hesitate to engage with GenAI due to gaps in their self-efficacy, and belief in their ability to be successful, even when they possess the necessary skills. Structured entry points, mentorship programmes, and visible female AI leaders can help bridge this confidence gap. When women see role models who have succeeded in AI or are the instructors of these new topics, they are more likely to persist and thrive in the field. Another critical issue is the lack of flexible learning models and clear career pathways for women in GenAI. Many women face time constraints as they balance caregiving responsibilities with work, making it difficult to pursue lengthy upskilling opportunities. Online learning has proven to be a powerful tool in bridging this gap, offering women accessible, affordable, and fast-tracked opportunities to acquire in-demand skills. Expanding access to such learning models is essential to increasing women's participation in AI and other high-growth, technology-driven fields. Moreover, demonstrating GenAI's real-world applications can encourage more women to engage with these new skills. Women are more likely to upskill in AI when they see its impact on key industries like healthcare, education, and creative industries -- where they are already highly involved -- or even everyday tasks like meal planning and parenting. Integrating practical applications into learning materials can boost female participation and retention in GenAI courses. Finally, ensuring that women actively shape AI development is essential to prevent biases in the creation and deployment of AI systems. Increasing female representation in AI design, data science, and decision-making roles is crucial for developing more equitable and inclusive AI-driven solutions. Gender equality in AI should not be a secondary goal -- it should be foregrounded as a central part of the UAE's AI and economic growth strategies. The UAE's rapid surge in GenAI enrollments demonstrates a strong appetite for AI skills, but true progress requires that women be equal stakeholders in this digital revolution. Driving real change requires concrete commitments from educators, employers, and policymakers -- integrating AI into school curricula, fostering mentorship, and designing flexible upskilling pathways that empower women at every stage of their careers. By challenging stereotypes, promoting female role models, building confidence through targeted support, and demonstrating the relevance of GenAI to women's careers, we can create a more inclusive and equitable AI landscape. Empowering women in GenAI is not just about closing a gap -- it's about unlocking the full potential of AI to drive innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth for all. The writer is the learning research lead at Coursera.