I work in AI – we need to deal with how biased technology is against women

The tech world is still dominated by men, which means that those in charge of programming machines, a status quo that has to change – and swiftly, writes Tabitha Goldstaub

‘My enforced bedrest brought home how gender, AI technologies and the pandemic had collided over the last year’ (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Last December, my partner had a migraine. He was laid up in bed for 24 hours and, although he had no other symptoms, took a Covid-19 test just in case. To our surprise, it came back positive, and like many people have experienced, I had to shield myself and our 16-month old. As well as handling my concern for my partner, I was suddenly flying solo with our son and trying to work full time.

A few days later, I came down with the virus. I was sicker than I’d ever been and stayed that way for 10 days. By then, luckily, my partner had recovered and could take over looking after our little boy and I was able to take time off my work in the AI sector without any issues.

I was lucky: not every woman has that kind of support. My enforced bedrest brought home how gender, AI technologies and the pandemic had collided over the last year, not just in my world, but for other women too – and in ways they won’t yet have seen.