Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly changing the way we live and work. As this field grows and advances, so does the importance of the diversity of thought within the field. Women in the AI field are developing groundbreaking research across the country, from MIT to Standford University to industry. Dr. Mary Frame, director of Cognitive Research at Parallax Advanced Research, talks about the importance of women in the AI field.
“Women can directly benefit the field of AI by providing a diversity of perspective, which can help make AI systems more inclusive and overcome institutional biases. If an AI system is informed only by men or male exemplars, then it will be more likely to make bias errors, for example. Having a team of AI experts that come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences can help to make AI more robust and adaptable to help solve problems for many people rather than only a niche subset of individuals. If we want AI to become more ubiquitous in our society, it will need to serve everyone.”
Careers in AI
As this field continuously grows, the career options available to those interested in working with AI are also ever-growing.
“There are many career options in AI directly and those that collaborate with AI experts” says Frame. “Within AI, there are options for software engineering, robotics engineering, machine learning engineering, AI engineering, and software development.”
The field of AI collaborates with a wide range of other disciplines to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and enhance the effectiveness of technology. You don’t have to possess a specified AI degree or background to be involved in the evolution of this technology.
“Working as a data scientist or cognitive scientist can also prepare you for working with AI directly. Frame explains further. If you are interested in studying human cognition, working as a cognitive neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, or human factors engineer can provide you with a skill set to collaborate with AI experts and some initial scaffolding upon which you can build specific field expertise.”
With AI impacting many different parts of our world and the people in it, the pathways into a career field that works alongside AI are vast and interconnected.
“I became involved in collaborative efforts to study human-AI teaming via research conducted with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Human Performance Wing.” Frame describes her path to working and collaborating with AI technology. “Although my academic training is not directly in AI, I’ve worked with AI experts to help them better understand the biological and behavioral processes that underlie human cognition, decision-making, and sensemaking. This can help to inform AI agents’ cognitive processes or at the very least help us to differentiate how humans and AI agents think and reason differently, so we can foster effective collaboration in human-machine teams.”
Read more about Dr. Mary Frame and her inspiring research here.
The Future of AI
To young girls who have a passion for science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM), you have a grand field of highly skilled subject matter experts, who were once just like you, ready to help you pursue your passion. The field of AI and its success in our world needs YOU!
“I would say that if you are interested in a field of research, you should pursue it,” advises Frame. “If you are going to be spending years or decades of your adult life working, you need to do something that you are passionate about enough to keep your attention through good times or difficult circumstances. Of course, you can change your career over time or learn new skills, but if you are excited about AI and want to get involved in the research, development, or implementation of AI, you should pursue education and career opportunities that give you that experience.”
Diversity of People and Thought is Key
As AI systems continue to advance into important aspects of our lives, the best chance of success lies in the diversity of those developing, influencing, and researching the AI field. Lack thereof leads to bias algorithms that lessen the success rate of the system properly responding in real-life scenarios. As more women enter the field bringing diverse perspectives and thought into AI technologies, we can create systems that better reflect the richness of human experience and ensure a future where AI benefits everyone.
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About Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax Advanced Research is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects.