The Women in AI Breakfast at VB Transform emphasized the importance of building AI tools with a focus on human end-users. Jessica Gilmartin, CRO at Calendly, highlighted that while AI technology is exciting, it should not be the end goal. She stressed the importance of building for humans and working with them to bring diverse perspectives into the development process.
Gilmartin mentioned that at Calendly, they encourage collaboration among teams with different expertise to ensure that the applications created are user-friendly and innovative. Other speakers also emphasized the need for a human-centric approach in AI development, especially if the end product is intended for human use.
The discussion also touched upon the importance of diversity in AI development to ensure that products are accessible and inclusive. Moderator Noelle Russell shared the example of Alexa, where early testing primarily involved men, leading to biases in recognizing male voices better than female voices. This highlighted the importance of involving a diverse group of users in the development process to build trust and comfort among all users.
Encouraging experimentation was another key point raised during the event. Aparna Sinha from Capital One mentioned that people with various backgrounds, even without a formal machine learning background, can contribute to AI development by experimenting with the technology. Ya Xu from LinkedIn emphasized that now is the best time to dive into AI with an abundance of resources available for learning and experimentation.
The speakers agreed that as more people from diverse backgrounds participate in AI development, the technology will only improve. By fostering a culture of inclusivity and experimentation, AI tools can be designed to better serve the needs of all users. It is crucial for individuals to become comfortable with AI tools and actively engage in the development process to drive innovation and progress in the field.
