The role of women in shaping Ethical AI

Gen AI, too, is a mystery. It responds in ways we don’t always expect, operates with layers of logic we can’t fully see, and—let’s be honest—no one really knows what it wants!

Of course, women are different. Our lived experiences shape how we think, act, and lead. We often carry a heightened sense of ownership and accountability—especially when we step into roles like motherhood. And there’s one skill we’ve mastered across all domains: giving instructions.

Whether it’s guiding a child, managing a household, or leading a team, the clarity, precision, and empathy in our instructions are unmatched. And guess what? That’s exactly what Prompt Engineering demands.

We think ahead. We anticipate what could go wrong. We craft prompts that steer Gen AI toward the right answers. It’s not just a technical skill—it’s a mindset we’ve been honing for years.

So yes, while this comparison may be playful, there’s a kernel of truth in it. Women bring a unique blend of intuition, structure, and foresight—qualities that are essential for shaping how we interact with AI and how AI interacts with the world.

As Generative AI begins to weave itself into the fabric of our daily lives, ethical concerns are rising sharply. From personalized recommendations to decision-making in sensitive areas like healthcare and law enforcement, the influence of Gen AI is undeniable—and so is the need for accountability.

Yet today, we find ourselves in a “use at your own risk” landscape. There’s no universally accepted framework for who is responsible when AI goes wrong. Is it the developer, the user, the organization, or the model itself? The ambiguity is unsettling.

This is where governance becomes crucial. Ethical AI isn’t just about preventing job losses—it’s about protecting human dignity, privacy, and autonomy. It’s about ensuring that AI systems are used responsibly, transparently, and with clear boundaries.

Safeguarding humans from the unintended consequences of Gen AI requires more than technical fixes. It demands inclusive leadership, diverse perspectives, and a strong ethical compass. And women, with their nuanced understanding of impact and empathy, are uniquely positioned to lead this charge. Of course, women have played a transformative role in shaping the development and ethical foundations of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially as the technology becomes more embedded in our lives. Their contributions span leadership, research, advocacy, and community-building—ensuring that AI evolves in a way that is inclusive, responsible, and human-centered.

Pioneers in Ethical AI

Women have been at the forefront of ethical AI innovation, challenging the notion that AI development is solely the domain of coders. Leaders like:

• Kay Firth-Butterfield – The world’s first Chief AI Ethics Officer, advocating for responsible AI governance. Kay is currently the CEO of Good Tech Advisory LLC, advising organizations worldwide on responsible technology.^{1 2}
• Joy Buolamwini – Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, known for exposing racial and gender bias in facial recognition systems.³
• Fei-Fei Li – Co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, promoting inclusive and ethical AI development. In 2023, Li was named one of the Time 100 AI Most Influential People.⁴
• Mira Murati – Former CTO and interim CEO at OpenAI; Founder of Thinking Machines Lab. Led teams behind GPT-4 and DALL·E, and is a vocal advocate for transparency, responsible AI development, and public oversight of AI technologies.⁵

These women are not just contributing—they are leading the conversation on how AI should be built and used.

Organizations like Women in AI Ethics™ (WAIE) have been instrumental in elevating diverse voices.⁶ Their mission is to make AI development more inclusive, transparent, and socially conscious.

Building ethical communities

RWhile women are increasingly present in the AI space, true impact—like any meaningful change—happens brick by brick, use case by use case. The adoption of Generative AI will not be a sweeping revolution overnight; it will unfold gradually, through real-world applications that touch lives in tangible ways.

That’s why I urge every woman to take an active role in this transformation. If humanity is to not just survive but thrive through this momentous shift, we cannot afford to be passive observers or faint voices in the background. We must be visible, vocal, and visionary.

We need to be out there—shaping, guiding, and governing—to ensure that AI is inclusive in every sense: across gender, culture, age, language, politics, and economic background. Because the stakes are too high, and the future too important, to be left to a narrow slice of society.

If we want AI to reflect the best of humanity, then humanity—in all its diversity—must be at the table shaping it.