In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expanding at an almost incomprehensible speed, leaders in gender equality are taking a step back to look at what this means for women and girls. The technology’s ability to mimic human intelligence promises to bring about enormous potential for societal advancement and economic dynamism. Yet at the same time, it is currently mirroring many of our world’s vast gender imbalances.
This means AI’s developments come with many challenges, including inequalities and gender discrimination, particularly considering that women are under-represented in the tech field. Through machine learning of existing data, AI has sometimes led to an increase in or created new discriminations, biases, and even harm to women.
UNESCO began Women for Ethical AI (W4EAI) to not only address these challenges, but also find expansive ways to include women in the technology’s abilities for problem-solving and creativity. By placing ethics and equality at the forefront, AI governance can also become a strong and swift vehicle to protect human rights, fundamental freedom, and human dignity.
W4EAI’s South Asia Chapter was launched on 19 January 2025 at Amrita University’s International Conference on Gender and Technology. This powerful joining of hands brings together people from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka to find solutions for AI in women’s lives. The South Asia Chapter is focusing on creating inclusive and ethical AI systems, ensuring equal representation across the AI lifecycle—from design to deployment in the region.
“In the recent past, India alone has clocked the highest engagement with generative AI in Asia-Pacific. Considering this significant engagement and the influence AI will have on South Asia’s populace, it is imperative that AI does not exacerbate existing inequalities and vulnerabilities,” said Dr Bhavani Rao at the event.
Dr Rao is Dean of Amrita University’s School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and its UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. She will now also chair W4EAI’s South Asia Chapter.
“We are building a network of amazing sisters who will support institutions to address gender dynamics in AI, ensuring that the development, design and deployment of AI technologies reflect the realities of South Asia,” added Ms Eunsong Kim. She is Programme Specialist and Chief of Sector for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia.
The launch was organized by Amrita University in collaboration with UNESCO and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and brought together experts from government, industry, academia, and civil society to discuss solutions for advancing gender equality in AI. The W4EAI network is tracking the implementation of the gender chapter of the UNESCO Recommendations on the Ethics of AI, a commitment made by 194 member states.
At the event, panelists discussed how AI is transforming the world, but women remain largely underrepresented. According to the UNESCO Gender and AI outlook, women make up only 30% of the AI workforce, with even fewer in leadership roles. In research and development, women represent just 12% of AI-specific positions.
“We cannot have just a technological revolution that not only reproduces biases but actually worsens them,” said Ms Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO.
Dr Rama Devi Lanka, Director of Emerging Technologies, Telangana, also joined the forward-thinking discussions. The state has been leading the development of AI technologies in India with an emphasis on governance and social empowerment.
With her invaluable experience, the panel emphatically addressed how both private and public sectors must prioritise ethics and inclusivity in AI development. Through its South Asia Chapter, W4EAI aims to support these mutual sectors in creating frameworks for ethical AI, addressing key areas like career guidance, regulatory incentives, and gender-sensitive AI policies across the region.
The network elevates the voices of South Asian women, ensuring that AI systems reflect the region’s diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts. By promoting inclusive and ethical AI, W4EAI helps ensure that technological advancements work for everyone, not just a select few.
With its foundation laid Amma’s birthplace, the launch of the South Asia Chapter of W4EAI stands as a powerful declaration of a commitment to ethical AI and gender equality. It will make a lasting impact on technology development and policy in the region by bringing together the voices of people across all strata of society.
