Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
Digital and tech strategist Mr Isheanesu Sithole has underscored the need to scale up women’s participation in rolling out artificial intelligence technologies.
Mr Sithole was addressing delegates at a three-day artificial intelligence programme in Harare on Thursday.
“The global percentage of women in the AI workforce is only 22 percent and less than a quarter of women in executive roles, this also applies to tech in general,” he said.
“So the limited number of women in this field means that their voice and their perspective is absent in the crucial stages of the design, testing, training, and implementation of AI technologies.”
Mr Sithole emphasised that it is essential to create AI that is both equitable and effective for everyone in society, especially women.
He said it is important to identify some of the barriers faced by women in their entry into STEM fields.
Mr Sithole said due to the speed at which the globe is advancing in AI, it is imperative to examine the biases and the gaps.
“We need to make sure that the unique perspectives and experiences of women are incorporated. If women do not participate in the innovations, who is going to incorporate their needs?”
CBZ Holdings group head of cybersecurity, IT governance and compliance, Mrs Mutsa Mabhande said women should safeguard their innovations from hackers.
“It is very important to make sure that our gadgets, all our research, is secure.”
She said the country needs women in cybersecurity, not just for the sake of diversity, but because they bring different perspectives and solutions to the table.
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