AI ‘boys’ class could widen economic gap between women, says Rana el Kaliouby

AI scientist, businessmanand investor, Rana el Kaliouby, is concerned that AI could become another ‘boys’ club’ in the tech industry. At the SXSW conference in Austin on Sunday, el Kaliouby shared her view that a lack of diversity could create economic challenges for women in tech, adding:

“I think AI today is a boys’ club. I think diversity is not a very popular topic today, but I think it’s very important because AI is creating incredible economic opportunities,” said El Kaliouby on stage, when asked if the idea of ​​AI being a boys’ club was a myth. (The interviewer showed headlines from TechCrunch featuring AI startups with male founders to illustrate the point.)

El Kaliouby, who sold his personal software company Affectiva in 2021 and now a co-founder and General Partner at Blue Tulip Ventures, said three-quarters of her investment firm’s investments are being started by female CEOs.

“I don’t just invest in women,” he explained. “But I try to look for these women founders and support them, if not with a check, but in other ways, because they are not getting the opportunities they deserve and the way they need.”

“If women are left out – because they’re not starting these companies, because they’re not getting the money, because they’re not investing in these companies – we’re going to look back five years from now or ten years from now, and … we’re going to widen the economic gap like crazy.

His description of the “unpopularity” that exists on the topic of diversity follows the Trump administration return Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiativeswhich is it extended to the tech industry. These changes affect not only the way tech companies hire, but also the way their products are made. In AI, for example, companies may feel pressured to align their output with the White House’s preferences.

For el Kaliouby, the lack of diversity isn’t just about economic potential, he said — it’s about consequences.

“I think we are living in a very interesting time. But I also feel strongly that if we do not intervene, if, if we do not stand up for what we care about such as values ​​and differences of opinion and opinion, and prioritize this idea of ​​stability among people … the results will not be good,” he added. “So I feel like it’s a very difficult time to use our voice and our leadership to shape where this is going.”