With ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney and a number of other players in the space making artificial intelligence top of mind, it’s also important to look more closely at who is helping build our AI future. This interview with Beena Ammanath from a past HPE Discover event in Madrid, Spain is especially relevant in looking at how diversity of the people building artificial intelligences is as important as the software being built, particularly in this moment where we are seeing incredible growth happening in the AI space.
Is diversity important in artificial intelligence development?
There is plenty of evidence suggesting that diversity is important when developing any product used by diverse groups of people. For something like AI, where the product is often outputs based on training data, this is even more important because the product will very much be a reflection of the people involved in building it in the first place.
Why is diversity important in AI development?
There are a few reasons collaboration by diverse teams can lead to better performing AI products.
Diversity within artificial intelligence development teams is crucial for several reasons:
Mitigating Bias:
Diverse teams are better equipped to identify and address biases in any software design. Homogeneous groups are more likely to overlook biases because they often have similar life experiences. That sameness doesn’t lend itself to seeing things that a more diverse team might notice. Real world examples of AI systems exhibiting racial and gender biases exist in tools for facial recognition and hiring processes. Teams of people from a wide variety of backgrounds are more likely to catch issues during testing before releasing an AI product for public use.
Enhancing Innovation
Teams composed of individuals from different backgrounds contribute unique viewpoints. These viewpoints lead to more creative solutions and innovation. Applying this to AI system development creates a greater potential for building more adaptable AI products. In my own work experience, some of the best performing teams I participated in were made up of groups of people who were all very different.
Ensuring Fairness and Inclusivity
AI technologies influence many aspects of society, from image creation, to job applicant review, to health care. Because artificial intelligence touches so much of daily life, it’s vital for it to operate in a fair and inclusive way. Hiring a diverse development team improves the likelihood that the team is more representative of the people who will use the AI in production. It also creates the opportunity for your team to consider the needs and values of a broader user base.
Building Trust
With the rapid growth of AI, diversity in artificial intelligence development teams will improve trust. Software of any kind is perceived as more trustworthy when it promotes fairness and lacks bias. By incorporating diverse perspectives during development, teams can create AI applications that are accepted by a wider audience.
Putting thoughtful effort into creating diversity within AI teams is not just a matter of equity, but a strategic advantage. It will lead to developing innovative AI systems that effectively serve diverse populations.
