Author: Women in AI Ireland team
The Women in AI Ireland community is proud to announce the remarkable achievements of Dr Alessandra Sala, our Global President and Senior Director of AI and Data Science at Shutterstock. On September 19, 2024, Dr. Sala delivered a powerful keynote address at the Diversity in Tech Awards (DITA) held at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland. This prestigious event, in partnership with JP Morgan, recognized the tireless efforts of leaders devoted to cultivating a more equitable tech landscape.
Dr Sala was honored with the illustrious Grace Hopper Award, a well-deserved acknowledgment of her unwavering commitment to uplifting women and underrepresented groups in technology. Her presence not only highlighted her individual accomplishments but also exemplified the collective spirit and dedication of Women in AI Ireland, who proudly participated in the ceremony.
In her powerful keynote, Dr. Sala tackled the pressing challenges of gender and racial inequalities within the AI sector. Drawing on her extensive work with Women in AI (WAI), she emphasized how biases embedded in AI technologies can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and limit opportunities for marginalized communities. She illustrated this through the troubling trend that AI-generated images typically feature men in "highly-paid jobs," while women are often relegated to roles associated with care and support. This discrepancy prompts us to confront and challenge the underlying societal narratives.
The statistics are sobering: women currently account for only 26.7% of tech roles and a mere 10.9% of senior leadership positions in 2024. Dr. Sala's observations are not just timely but also a rallying cry for urgent action. She urged a unified effort to dismantle the structural barriers preventing women from advancing in the tech industry, declaring, "Diversity and inclusion in AI is a global commitment and a collective leader's responsibility."
The Women in AI Ireland team was honored to be present at the awards ceremony, embodying the spirit of solidarity and representation within the global WAI community. This achievement is a celebration of our collective journey, showcasing the importance of investing in a future where women and diverse groups can lead, innovate, and inspire within a more equitable tech industry.
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