One of the hottest topics out there is the rise of artificial intelligence and in particular of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Suddenly machines can pass MBA exams, write memos for you, create computer codes, and much much more. At the same time, the conversation around the potential harms, and in particular the inequities, that can be created by such technologies is also accelerating. How can we take advantage of all of the incredible things it can do without suffering from its potential harms?  And, is that even possible?  In this episode, we talk to Annie Veillet and Allison Cohen to answer these questions.

Featured guests: 

Allison Cohen is Senior Applied AI Projects Manager at Mila. In this role, Allison works closely with AI researchers, social science experts and external partners to professionalize and deploy socially beneficial AI projects. Her portfolio of work includes: a misogyny detection and correction tool; an application that can identify online activity that is suspected of containing human trafficking victims; and an agricultural analytics tool to support sustainable practices among smallholder farmers in Rwanda. She was on InspiredMinds! Top 50 Influential Women in AI list and was the Runner Up for the 2022 Women in AI "Leader of the Year" Award in the category of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 

Annie Veillet is a partner at PwC and leads their AI and Intelligent Automation offerings. She brings extensive experience in the planning and execution of complex Advanced Analytics and Automation solutions. Her experience includes Analytics transformations (from the identification of business drivers to implementing and scaling capabilities), process automation (with embedded AI components), customer segmentation using behavioral traits, and data management. Annie co-led the development of PwC’s Global Responsible AI Toolkit and was recognized as one of the Top 30 Influential Women Advancing AI in Montreal by RE.WORK.  

Moderator: Brian Keng is a Research Director at Borealis AI, a research centre created by Royal Bank of Canada, and an Adjunct Professor in Data Science at the Rotman School. At Borealis, he leads the incubator program building out innovative AI-enabled products and capabilities for the financial services industry. At Rotman, he plays a key role in shaping data science education and research through his work with the TD Management Data and Analytics Lab and the Master of Management Analytics program. Brian's primary professional focus revolves around building scalable AI and machine learning systems to provide robust solutions to core business problems. 
    

Gender Analytics is a way to analyze your products, services, processes and policies with a gender lens to uncover hidden opportunities for innovation and improved effectiveness by considering gender, race, Indigeneity, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and other identities. Learn more here: https://www.gendereconomy.org/gender-analytics-online/ 

 

Want to hear more from the Institute for Gender and the Economy? Check out our signature podcast series, Busted, which busts prominent myths about gender and the economy! 

 

Produced by: Sarah Kaplan  

Edited by: Ian Gormely