IWD 2025: Building an Equitable AI Future

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, I find myself reflecting on both the progress we've made and the critical work ahead in the AI industry. As a woman leading an AI company, I've witnessed firsthand how inclusive leadership can transform not just organizations, but entire industries.

It's no secret that AI is already a major part of the global economy—the question isn't if AI will grow, it's how much AI will transform our world. One projection has the market reaching over $800 billion by 2030. As AI applications expand into virtually every aspect of our lives—from healthcare and education to transportation and entertainment—there's an urgency to ensure responsible development keeps pace with this rapid integration. In this technological arms race, companies may be tempted to prioritize speed to market over thorough ethical considerations in their AI supply chains.

But this approach misses a crucial opportunity. As women leaders, we often bring different perspectives to the table—perspectives that value sustainable growth, equitable distribution of resources, and long-term impact over short-term gains. This is precisely the mindset we need as we shape the future of AI.

AI itself presents a unique opportunity to completely reshape our world economy and allow capital to flow to places that have been traditionally left behind by tech booms. My company, Sama, was founded on the principle that talent is equally distributed around the world, but opportunity is not, and we've focused our efforts in Kenya and Uganda, where we've seen remarkable talent, particularly among women who have traditionally been underrepresented in tech.

This International Women's Day, I want to challenge every leader in the AI space to consider how we can build a more inclusive, equitable AI ecosystem. The technology is still relatively young, and companies have more power than they realize to shape its future for the better. The time is now to build a healthy, thriving industry that values every worker in the supply chain.

CSR 2.0: Acting with Real Purpose

Most companies today have a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy or something similar. 93% of the world's largest 250 companies publish some kind of report every year. But not every company always operates to those standards. And make no mistake, it's not easy. Research has found that over half of executives don't believe their organizations act with purpose, even as 64% of CEOs believe that CSR is a vital part of their business.

As a woman in leadership, I've often found myself pushing back against the "growth at all costs" mentality that can pervade tech companies. The commonly-used reverse-bidding auction process for vendor selection doesn't encourage companies to select suppliers that have a positive social impact: it encourages undercutting and choosing the lowest bidder. There will always be companies willing to go as low as they can to secure contracts, and that often comes with a trickle-down cost to their workers—particularly women and other marginalized groups who are often the most vulnerable in the supply chain.

Companies must operate to the CSR standards and policies they espouse. More succinctly: they need to put their money where their mouth is. It may seem like only big movers like Google, Meta, or Walmart have the power to create change. Yet all buyers can positively influence the broader ecosystem, with many small effects piling up to have the same impact. Buyers also have the advantage of sitting in the very middle of the supply chain, with the ability to hold entities both above and below them in the chain to account.

In practice, this means that buyers have to be choosy. Start the selection process with your principles in mind, and stick to them. Ask about data governance policies. Ask about gender diversity within their workforce. Ask to visit a supplier's office, if you can. Make the extra effort to strike the balance between managing costs and doing good by people and the planet. Have a framework in place that every decision is made under.

Resources for Better Practices

This International Women's Day, I encourage leaders to look beyond the usual metrics when evaluating AI vendors and partners. Not sure where to begin in developing that framework? Surprisingly, governments might be a good place to start. For example, the Scottish government has a Q&A tool specifically for SMEs to evaluate and refine their labor practices. The EU's AI Act and in the US, states like Colorado are leading the way in setting their own policies.

To go a step further, there are neutral third parties investigating working conditions. The Fair Labor Association provides accreditation and conducts ongoing evaluations to keep those companies honest, as well as offering knowledge-building programs to a network of 2,500 affiliates. Global Labor Justice has a 40-year history of advocating for safe and dignified work. If a supplier is accredited or associated with these kinds of organizations, you can and should ask to see their certifications.

Also consider organizations that specifically focus on women in AI and tech. Women in AI Ethics, AI for Good's Gender Program, and Women in AI are all doing important work to ensure that AI benefits everyone equally. Their research, guidelines, and certification programs can provide valuable frameworks for more inclusive AI development practices.

The big companies are already shifting how they are approaching AI's development. 13 other companies joined the aforementioned big three companies in committing to new safety guidelines at a summit co-hosted by the British and Republic of Korea governments last year. These companies, with their vast resources, can shift the industry with even the smallest of moves. Yet even their power only stretches so far. Other companies must step up and make the effort to do better, too.

A Call to Action for International Women's Day 2025

As we mark International Women's Day 2025, I call on all leaders—especially women in positions of influence—to recognize the unique opportunity we have to shape the future of AI in a way that benefits all of humanity. When it comes to AI, there is no responsible or ethical decision that is too small to matter. Every decision from companies of every size adds up regardless, and everyone can use AI more responsibly.

When something has this much potential, making the effort now can prevent us from falling into familiar patterns where the lowest bidder wins, where profit remains concentrated in only a few parts of the world, and where life-changing technology only helps a few, not all of us.

We are at an inflection point with AI. As women leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that this technology is developed and deployed in ways that reflect our values of equity, inclusion, and sustainability. The future of AI cannot be a race to the bottom—it must be a collective ascent toward a better world for everyone.

Are you ready to make the change?