Breaking Barriers: Zara Anita Paul on Non-Binary Leadership in AI and Tech

Zara Anita Paul, co-founder and CEO of Choppity, shares insights on the transformative potential of AI in video editing, emphasising that it should enhance creativity rather than replace it. With a background in mathematics and computer science, Zara discusses their journey from traditional video editing to creating an AI-driven platform that simplifies the editing process for creators, highlighting the growing need for accessible tools in the evolving media landscape, particularly for podcasters. Throughout the conversation, Zara reflects on the challenges of being a non-binary person in the tech world, noting the lack of representation and the importance of using personal experiences to drive change. The episode also touches on the current state of AI, its impact on jobs, and the necessity for companies to focus on meaningful innovation rather than chasing fleeting trends.Takeaways: Zara discusses the challenge of being a non-binary founder in a male-dominated tech world. The podcast emphasises the importance of using AI thoughtfully in creative processes. Zara's company, Choppity, aims to simplify video editing for creators, making it more accessible. Zara highlights the shift in sentiment towards AI, noting a sense of fatigue among users. The episode explores how AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it entirely. Zara shares the rewarding experience of helping customers save time in video editing. Links referenced in this episode:choppity.comlinkedin.com/in/zaraanitaCompanies mentioned in this episode: Choppity Canva Figma ChatGPT Stable Diffusion AI Augmented Intelligence

This podcast episode delves into the critical issue of gender bias in artificial intelligence, highlighting how biases can perpetuate existing stereotypes and inequalities in the workforce. Dr Anna Paraskevopoulou, an Associate Professor at Anglia Ruskin University, shares her insights on how AI systems often reflect societal biases, particularly in representation and professional roles. Through a compelling experiment, she demonstrates how AI-generated images predominantly depict men in high-status professions while associating women with lower-paid roles. The conversation also explores the intersectionality of social class and its overlooked impact on AI, emphasising the need for diverse teams in technology development to foster inclusivity and equity. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the implications of these biases for younger generations and the importance of critical engagement with AI technologies to create a more equitable future.Takeaways: Social class is often overlooked in discussions about bias in AI and technology. Diverse teams in AI development lead to better, more inclusive systems and outcomes. Biases in AI can perpetuate stereotypes, affecting young people's perceptions of gender roles. AI's impact on job recruitment processes can disadvantage women and minority groups significantly. Understanding intersectionality is crucial for addressing how inequalities manifest in AI systems. Education and training are essential to equip individuals with the skills needed for the digital age.

In a thought-provoking episode of Women with AI, Jagger Waters explores artificial intelligence's transformative impact on filmmaking. Drawing on her extensive experience in original content development, Waters discusses how she began exploring AI during the Hollywood Writers Strike in 2023. She recognised this as an opportunity to innovate within an industry facing significant challenges. She shares her insights on how AI tools can facilitate the creation of pre-visualisation materials, enabling storytellers to present their ideas with greater clarity and impact. This shift enhances the creative process and democratises filmmaking, allowing a broader range of voices and perspectives to emerge in the industry.Takeaways:AI tools empower filmmakers to create visual materials that enhance storytelling and communication. Jagger emphasises the importance of staying educated about AI's impact on creative industries. She highlights the contrast between fear surrounding AI and the supportive community she found. Links:Jagger on LinkedInGlamorous Reptile - Jagger on InstagramJames Bridle book - Ways of BeingLaura Tripaldi book - Parallel MIndsAI Experts React to Oprah Winfrey's "AI and the Future of Us" SpecialThe College of Extraordinary Experiences - 2025 detailsJagger on SubstackCompanies mentioned in this episode: Curious Refuge Machine Cinema Cinema Synthetica Producers Guild of America Television Academy AWS Fabric AI Runway Lionsgate Sony Warner Universal Music Group

In this episode of Women with AI, host Joanna Shilton chats with Emma Wharton-Love, co-founder of Spark, an AI consultancy empowering creative and marketing teams. Emma shares her unconventional career journey—from leading hybrid working initiatives in Parliament to founding Spark alongside her husband, Jules, where together, they demystify AI’s role in streamlining creative processes, tackling misconceptions, and highlighting its potential to enhance, not replace, human creativity. With actionable insights on AI tools, business transformation, and the importance of blending human ingenuity with cutting-edge technology, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the future of work and creativity.Takeaways: Emma emphasises that AI can streamline repetitive tasks, allowing more time for creativity. Understanding AI tools is crucial for creative agencies to stay competitive in the evolving landscape. AI should be seen as an assistant that enhances human creativity rather than replacing it. The integration of AI into the creative process can lead to innovative and original ideas. Emma's journey reflects the importance of adaptability and continuous skill development in one's career. The collaborative potential between AI tools and human ingenuity will define future creative success. Links relevant to this episode:Subscribe to Creative AI News — Spark — AI Partners for Creative Agencies - A newsletter designed to cut through the AI hype and give creatives the AI news that matters to them.Sign up for the the next edition of What's new in Creative AIAI for Creatives from Spark YouTube channelNadio GranataWe Are Spark AI | LinkedInEmma Wharton-Love | LinkedInEvents — Spark — AI Partners for Creative AgenciesInvisible Women | Caroline Criado Perez - The #1 Sunday Times best-seller, INVISIBLE WOMEN: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men (Chatto & Windus, Abrams, 2019), highlights the systematic biases behind the data and assumptions impacting our everyday lives.

Join us as we delve into the crucial topic of trustworthy AI with Jo Stansfield, an inclusive innovation consultant and founder of Inclusioneering. Jo shares her journey from engineering to focusing on the human dimensions of technology, highlighting the importance of avoiding bias and embracing responsibility in AI systems. She discusses the alarming implications of algorithmic decision-making, particularly in education and recruitment, where fairness is often compromised. Jo emphasises the need for organizations to implement proper accountability and transparency measures to ensure equitable outcomes for all. Throughout the conversation, she also offers insights into the role of diversity in tech and manufacturing, advocating for a more inclusive approach to innovation.Takeaways: Jo Stansfield emphasises the importance of trustworthy AI to ensure fairness and accountability in decision-making processes. Her experience in tech has driven her passion for inclusive innovation, addressing bias and discrimination in AI systems. AI's rapid integration into various sectors necessitates ethical considerations and responsible usage to avoid reinforcing societal biases. Inclusioneering aims to foster diversity in tech and engineering by helping organizations understand their workforce and culture. The use of biometric data in schools raises significant privacy concerns that need careful consideration and scrutiny. AI applications in recruitment and manufacturing must be critically assessed to prevent perpetuating existing inequalities. Links and companies mentioned in this episode:Find Jo Stansfield on LinkedInInclusioneering™ British Computer Society For Humanity Book - Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez TechUp Boot Camps Bold as Brass (Katherine Evans)#PPEthatfits: it’s not a fashion show Film – Coded BiasBook - The Algorithm: How AI Can Steal Your Future and Hijack Your Career by Hilke Schellmann

The conversation with Lisa Weaver-Lambert unpacks the multifaceted role of women in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. With a rich business transformation and strategy career, Lisa emphasises the necessity for non-technical leaders to gain a robust understanding of AI technologies. Her book, The AI Value Playbook, culminates her extensive experience and aims to empower executives with actionable insights to integrate AI into their organisations. Through her narrative, she illustrates how AI can transform industries, provided that leaders have the right knowledge and tools.Takeaways: Women are underrepresented in AI and tech, often facing challenges in fundraising for startups. Diversity in teams is crucial, with women bringing valuable perspectives to AI development. Practical engagement with AI technologies can empower women to embrace leadership roles in tech. The rapid pace of AI development requires continuous learning and adaptation from all professionals. Domain expertise is critical for applying AI effectively across various industries and sectors. Women should leverage mentorship and community to build networks and advance their careers. Find Lisa on LinkedIn.Lisa’s book: The AI Value Playbook: How to make AI work in the real worldLinks referenced in this episode:www.microsoft.comwww.accenture.comwww.berkeley.eduwww.escpeurope.euwww.oxford.aiwww.kaggle.comwww.openai.comwww.deeplearning.comwww.spotify.com

Natalia Burina, a prominent AI product leader and venture capitalist, shares her incredible journey from escaping war-torn Bosnia to becoming a leading figure in the AI field. With a background that includes key roles at Meta and Salesforce, Natalia has a wealth of experience in product management, particularly in developing AI technologies that cater to a global audience. The discussion delves into the challenges she faced in creating fair and unbiased AI systems for billions of users, emphasising the importance of understanding cultural nuances and the historical biases present in data. Natalia highlights the need for transparency in AI and the ethical implications of technology, particularly how biases in data can lead to skewed outcomes in AI applications. Her insights reveal how companies can proactively address these biases through tools like fairness flow, which helps engineers assess and mitigate potential biases in AI models before they go live.Takeaways: Natalia emphasises the importance of addressing bias in AI systems to ensure fairness and representation across diverse populations. She highlights the transition from building AI products to investing in AI startups, focusing on both product and business aspects. Natalia discusses the challenges of working in a male-dominated tech environment and the necessity of finding supportive mentors and sponsors. In her experience, ethical considerations in AI involve transparency, particularly in ad targeting and user data usage. The future of AI is seen as promising, with potential applications that could revolutionise drug discovery and productivity in various sectors. She encourages individuals interested in AI to find their passion, learn through hands-on experience, and utilise available online resources. Connect with Natalia Burina on LinkedInAI Studios by Natalia Burina podcast on SubstackNatalia Burina on X (Twitter) MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - free online courses OpenCourseWareCoursera online coursesDeepLearning AI coursesBBC article about how groups that support women in the tech industry are struggling to survive.Companies mentioned in this episode: Meta Facebook Salesforce Microsoft Samsung Storm Ventures Nvidia

Join us for an enlightening discussion with Kelsey Farish, a top media and entertainment lawyer who has transitioned her expertise from traditional IP law into the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence. Kelsey shares her unique journey and how her passion for the movie industry, coupled with a crucial incident involving Scarlett Johansson and deepfakes, sparked her deep interest in the legal implications of AI. We dive into the challenges of protecting one's image in the modern digital landscape and the intricacies of navigating multiple legal systems that often struggle to catch up with technological advancements.TakeawaysExisting laws are inadequate in regulating AI-generated content, such as deep fakes, due to the complexities of intellectual property and publicity rights.The use of AI in the film industry raises concerns about content inflation and job displacement, but also offers opportunities for democratisation of filmmaking.Individuals can protect their image rights through contracts, even in the absence of specific legislation.The legal landscape surrounding AI and media is evolving, but it will take time for laws to catch up with technological advancements.AI can be used in film production to create realistic scenes and finish films when actors pass away.The right of publicity protects individuals' control over their image and how it is used in films and online.AI can be used as a tool to detect harmful content and manipulated videos online.Transparency and education are crucial in understanding and navigating the use of AI.AI can provide access to new ideas and concepts, but it's important to challenge and look beyond algorithmic recommendations.There is a need for laws and regulations to ensure responsible use of AI and protect individuals' rights.Find Kelsey Farish on LinkedInVisit Kelsey's website and find a spotlight on Kelsey's AI Media ExpertiseKelsey on XKelsey is also an advisory board member of vera.ai

In this episode, Jo Shilton interviews Anna Mountford, the founder of Green Wall Marketing, about her experience with AI in marketing. They discuss the impact of AI on creativity, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, and the potential of AI in various sectors. They also touch on the ethical considerations of AI and the importance of continuous learning.TakeawaysAI can enhance creativity and improve marketing strategies when used effectively.Women in business face challenges in male-dominated industries, but having supportive mentors and managers can make a difference.AI has both positive and negative implications, and it is important to use it responsibly and ethically.Continuous learning is crucial in the rapidly evolving field of AI and marketing.There is a need for more women to be involved in AI and to have their voices heard in the industry.Find Anna on LinkedInGreen Wall Marketing

In this conversation, Jo Shilton interviews Professor Ruth Morgan, a Professor of Crime & Forensic Science and Vice Dean (Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship) at UCL, about her work at the intersection of science, technology, and the humanities. They discuss the use of AI in forensic science and the challenges of evidence interpretation, and they also touch on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the impact of culture and context on scientific observations. Professor Morgan shares her journey into forensic science and the need for evidential underpinning in forensic techniques. The conversation highlights the role of AI in fingerprint and DNA databases and the potential for AI to enhance evidence analysis in forensic science. The conversation explores the use of AI in forensic science and the challenges and opportunities it presents. It discusses the shift from traditional forensic methods to the analysis of digital footprints and the vast amount of data available. The conversation also delves into the challenges of bias and regulation in AI, as well as the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of human creativity in the age of AI.TakeawaysForensic science requires interdisciplinary approaches that bring together diverse ways of thinking and seeing.The interpretation of evidence in forensic science is influenced by culture, context, and the scientist's perspective.The development of fingerprint and DNA databases in forensic science has relied on algorithmic tools for searching and identification.AI has the potential to enhance evidence analysis in forensic science and improve the understanding of what evidence means in a forensic context. AI is transforming forensic science by enabling the analysis of digital footprints and the vast amount of data available.The shift from traditional forensic methods to AI-based analysis presents challenges in finding relevant material in a large ocean of data.Bias and regulation are important considerations in the use of AI in forensic science.Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial in harnessing the full potential of AI in forensic science.Human creativity and craft are still essential in the age of AI, and AI should be seen as a tool to enhance human capabilities.