AI as the Great Leveller: A Call to Action for International Women’s Day

Introduction: AI as an Equalizing Force

International Women’s Day (IWD) is not just a celebration of achievements; it is a rallying cry for equity, inclusion, and progress. As we navigate the dawn of the AI age, we have a historic opportunity to use artificial intelligence as the ultimate equalizer—a force that breaks down barriers, democratizes access to knowledge, and ensures that no one is left behind.

AI is more than just a tool for efficiency and innovation; it is a catalyst for societal transformation. However, realizing its full potential requires a commitment to responsible and equitable AI practices. This means ensuring that AI serves all communities equally, fostering Hybrid Intelligence with gender equity at its core, and building a Knowledge Circular Economy where learning and resources are freely shared for collective progress.

As someone who has spent years championing the democratization of responsible AI, I firmly believe that ensuring free and equal access to AI is not a favour—it is an obligation.

“AI will either be the greatest equalizer in history or the biggest missed opportunity for humanity. The only way to guarantee the former is to ensure AI is developed, governed, and deployed with inclusivity at its core.” — Nadio Granata

This International Women’s Day, let’s explore how AI can be the great leveller, especially for women in the workplace, education, and leadership.

Democratizing Free and Equal Access to Responsible AI: An Obligation, Not a Favour

Breaking Down Barriers with AI

For centuries, access to knowledge and opportunity has been dictated by privilege. AI has the potential to dismantle this by making education, training, and professional development accessible to all, regardless of gender, socioeconomic background, or geographic location.

Women, especially those in traditionally underserved regions, have historically faced barriers to education and career advancement. AI-driven platforms can bridge this gap by:

• Providing personalized learning experiences that adapt to individual needs and learning styles.
• Creating affordable or free online training in AI, coding, entrepreneurship, and
• Automating mentorship programs, connecting women with industry leaders and peers globally.

But access alone is not enough. It must be responsible access—meaning that the AI systems themselves must be free from gender bias, transparent in their decision-making, and designed with inclusivity in mind.

Factoid: The Power of AI in Education

• Women make up only 26% of AI professionals globally (World Economic Forum, 2023).
• AI-driven education platforms have increased female participation in STEM by up to 30% in some regions (UNESCO, 2022).

> Explore: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training Courses

The Reality of Bias in AI

AI models, if unchecked, can reinforce existing inequalities. Research has shown that AI-driven hiring algorithms have exhibited gender biases, filtering out women from tech and leadership roles. Facial recognition technologies have had lower accuracy rates for women and people of color, further demonstrating how unchecked AI can perpetuate discrimination.

Ensuring responsible AI means implementing rigorous oversight, diverse data sets, and transparency in AI decision-making. It requires more women in AI development, leadership, and governance to build systems that reflect the diverse world we live in.

Hybrid Intelligence Requires Gender Equality at Its Core

What is Hybrid Intelligence?

Hybrid Intelligence is the collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence—each amplifying the other’s strengths. However, for this model to succeed, gender equality must be a foundational principle.

If the data sets used to train AI are predominantly designed by men, they will inherently reflect male perspectives. If leadership in AI innovation remains overwhelmingly male, the solutions AI generates will fail to represent the full spectrum of human experience.

Why Gender Balance Matters in AI Development

1. Diverse Perspectives Improve AI
   • AI designed by diverse teams is proven to be more ethical, effective, and representative.
   • Women bring unique problem-solving approaches and insights that are essential for creating AI that serves all of humanity.
2. AI Needs Emotional and Ethical Intelligence

• Ethical AI requires decision-making that incorporates empathy, social context, and inclusivity—areas where diverse leadership excels.
• Women’s leadership in AI governance can help ensure AI serves humanity rather than just corporate interests.

3. Hybrid Workforces Need Equitable AI Integration
   • AI is changing the future of work, automating tasks and creating new roles. Without gender equity in AI leadership, there is a real risk of women being disproportionately displaced from the workforce.

Factoid: The Economic Impact of Gender-Inclusive AI

• Closing the AI gender gap could add $1.6 trillion to the global economy by 2030 (McKinsey & Company, 2022).
• Women-led AI startups generate 35% higher ROI than those led by men

(Harvard Business Review, 2023).

A Knowledge Circular Economy for AI: Enabling Rapid and Equitable Development

What is a Knowledge Circular Economy?

A Knowledge Circular Economy (KCE) is a model where knowledge is openly shared, reused, and continuously improved upon rather than being restricted by patents, corporate interests, or paywalls.

For women to thrive in the AI revolution, we must ensure that AI education, tools, and resources are freely available and shared across communities, industries, and countries.

Factoid: Women and AI Learning

• 90% of female AI learners say access to free resources was critical to their career development (LinkedIn, 2023).
• Countries with open AI education policies have seen a 40% increase in women entering AI-related careers(OECD, 2023).

> Explore: Digital Transformation Training Courses

A Vignette: Women from the Gulf Leading the AI Revolution

In my work with Glomacs and its sister companies, I have had the privilege of witnessing a significant rise in the number of women from the Gulf region enrolling in AI and leadership courses.

Women from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond are stepping into AI with confidence, ambition, and an unyielding drive to shape the future.

One remarkable example is Aisha, a Bahraini entrepreneur who enrolled in an AI for Business course. Initially hesitant, she soon discovered the power of AI in optimizing supply chains, automating customer service, and scaling her e-commerce business. By the end of the course, Aisha had implemented AI-driven analytics into her company, doubling her revenue within six months.

Similarly, Dr. Leila, an Emirati AI researcher, leveraged AI to enhance predictive analytics in healthcare, improving early diagnosis rates for chronic diseases in her community.

These stories are not anomalies. They are proof that when given access to AI education and leadership opportunities, women excel—driving innovation, economic growth, and societal progress.

Join the AI Revolution: A Call to Action

This International Women’s Day, I invite all women, allies, and industry leaders to take action:

1. Invest in AI Education for Women
2. Advocate for Ethical AI
3. Leverage AI for Empowerment
4. Engage with Custom AI Tools for IWD 👉 Try My IWD Empowerment GPT

Final Thought

AI is not just a technological shift—it is a social revolution.

“The future of AI is not just male or female—it is human.” — Nadio Granata