Promoting Diversity in AI: Highlighting Tara Chklovski’s Work in Educating Future Innovators

To recognize the outstanding work of women in the field of AI, TechCrunch is publishing a series of interviews throughout the year, with a particular focus on those who have significantly contributed to the AI revolution. The aim of these interviews is to bring the often underappreciated work of these inspiring women to the forefront. You can read more of these profiles here.

Tara Chklovski, CEO and founder of Technovation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young girls about technology and entrepreneurship, has been at the company’s helm for the past 17 years. She has dedicated her work to empowering young women to tackle global issues using technology. Chklovski’s educational background spans continents, with her initial studies at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, followed by a master’s at Boston University, and a PhD from the University of Southern California in Aerospace Engineering.

Could you share a little about your introduction to AI and what drew you to the field?

My immersion into AI began in 2016 when I was invited to the AAAI (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence) Conference in San Francisco. I had the opportunity to interview a range of AI researchers exploring the application of AI in various fields, from space exploration to finance. Technovation, as a nonprofit, is committed to providing the most disadvantaged communities with access to cutting-edge tools and technologies. The power and potential of AI were clear, thus sparking my interest to learn and delve deeper into this field.

We carried out a nationwide inquiry of parents in 2017, probing about their views and worries about AI, and what captured our attention was the keen interest African American mothers showed in introducing AI literacy to their kids, more than any other group. As a result, we initiated the world’s first AI education programme — the AI Family Challenge, backed by Google and Nvidia.

We kept learning and refining since then, and today, we stand as the sole international, project-oriented AI education programme offering a research-based syllabus, made available in 12 languages.

What are your greatest achievements in the AI arena?

We take immense pride in being the only organisation with a peer-reviewed research paper on the impact of our project-centred AI syllabus. Moreover, we have managed to disseminate it to thousands of girls globally.

How can one effectively deal with the hurdles in the largely male-led tech world, and more specifically, the AI sector?

Indeed, this is a daunting task. We have numerous supporters, but it’s also true that individuals with immense power and influence are generally male CEOs who may not fully comprehend the obstacles women encounter at every level. The attributes that help someone become the CEO of a trillion-dollar company may not be the ones that help them understand the feelings of others.

Regarding solutions, society’s knowledge is increasing, and both men and women are developing more advanced understanding of empathy, mental health, psychological growth, etc. My recommendation for those backing women in tech is to take more daring steps in their contributions, to help us advance at a faster pace. We have an abundance of research and findings to guide us on what actually works. What we need more are champions and advocates.

What counsel would you have for women looking to venture into the AI sector?

Start today. It is so easy to start messing around online with free and world-class lectures and courses. Find a problem that is interesting to you, and start learning and building. The Technovation curriculum is one great starting point as well, as it requires no prior technical background and by the end you would have created an AI-based startup.

What are some of the most pressing issues facing AI as it evolves?

[Society views] underserved groups as a monolithic group with no voice, agency, or talent — just waiting to be exploited. In fact, we have found that teenage girls are some of the earliest adopters of technology and have the coolest ideas. A Technovation team of girls created a ride-sharing and taxi-hailing app in December 2010. Another Technovation team created a mindfulness and focus app in March 2012. Today, Technovation teams are creating AI-based apps, building new datasets focused on groups in India, Africa, and Latin America — groups that are not being included in the apps coming out of Silicon Valley.

Instead of viewing these countries as just markets, consumers, and recipients, we need to view these groups as powerful collaborators who can help ensure that we are building truly innovative solutions to the complex problems facing humanity.

What are some concerns for AI users?

AI technologies progress at a rapid pace. Make it a point to maintain a sense of curiosity and seek to understand how these models operate whenever possible. By doing so, you will become a well-informed and inquisitive user.

What is the recommended method to construct AI responsibly?

Integration of groups not typically involved in the design and engineering processes is essential. Involve them as co-designers and creators in the process of technology development. It may not require much additional time, but the final product will invariably be robust, innovative, and well worth the effort.

How can investors effectively advocate for responsible AI?

Encourage partnerships with international nonprofits that possess connections to a variety of talent resources. This ensures that your engineers are communicating with a wide range of users and integrating their insights.

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