AI and analytics will usher in the next wave of transformation with the Indian AI market set to reach over $7.8 billion by 2025, as per the IDC report.  However, the World Economic Forum data suggests women account for only 22 per cent of the global AI jobs. Moreover, in India, around 43 per cent of Indian women students graduate is in STEM and only 14% employed as engineers, scientists, and technologists in research development institutions. 

The current age can truly be termed as the ‘digital age’ and women are a vital part of achieving the highest levels of digital maturity, but unless we recognise this, our development in AI and technology will stagnate.    

The road towards correction 

India lists on the top when it comes to producing the highest number of female graduates in STEM but ranks 19th in terms of employing them. The huge variance itself describes the gender-gap present in the tech domain, while also calling for digging out reasons behind the lower female participation in employment.  

As per the latest NASSCOM report, AI penetration is rising in the start-up ecosystem with more than 50% of Indian start-ups using AI. With increasing adoption, organisations need to end their ‘selection bias’ soon. Without including women, organisations will fail to harness the full potential of the latest innovations in the field of AI. With most of the machine learning models fed with a biased dataset, the output thus produced will not be able to reflect the full picture, thereby causing catastrophic harm. 

To envision future careers, visible AI leaders and female scientists is an effective way to attract more female talents. Every time we talk about AI, whether events, panel discussions, or on social media, it's critical to include an equal number of women. A workforce that is gender-inclusive can inspire a new generation of female scientists, and talented women will be drawn to it. Also, equal pay for equal work is equitable and aids in the recruitment and retention of women. Unfortunately, many women who have worked in the tech sector for nearly a decade have pondered leaving due to low pay and a lack of opportunities for professional advancement.  

Is there any shift yet? 

The tech landscape in India and the rest of the world was very different a few years ago. The tech community was male-dominated, and women, despite their talent, were seen as inferior and devoid of the limelight they deserve. Things are different now, and many companies are working hard to make their workplaces more female-friendly. Multiple women-led AI startups are making their mark including: 

Niramai Health Analytix: Founded in 2016 by Geetha Manjunath, the Bangalore-based startup has developed a novel screening solution for breast cancer that uses Thermalytix, i.e., machine intelligence over thermography images. cloud-hosted analytics solution uses big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms for early & accurate breast cancer screening. 

Mad Street Den: Ashwini Asokan founded MSD in 2013. The Chennai-based startup uses AI-based and computer vision tools for businesses around the world. The Vue.ai platform from MSD uses data science and image recognition techniques to disrupt the retail sector. 

LogiNext: Manisha Raisinghani founded LogiNext in 2014 as one of the leading AI and ML-based transportation automation platforms. The startup has become a global technology and automation company with a focus on transportation, omnichannel fulfilment, home deliveries, and the B2B distribution market. 

Multiple other examples exist including Rivigo by Gazal Karla, Morph.ai by Niyati Agarwal, Bash.ai by Barkha Sharma and more. 

Conclusion 

Last month, the front page of majorly all mainline newspapers including The Hindu, ET, TOI, IE carried news – for the first time, the number of women exceeded that of men in India as per the 5th National Family Health Survey. This indeed is a celebratory moment, but, what may actually be crucial is the larger participation of women in AI to accelerate the positive growth trajectory of the AI industry in India – what we can also term as “double-engine growth.”