Women of Ying Wu College of Computing Study Bias in AI at Annual Grace Hopper Conference
Members of NJIT’s undergraduate and graduate Women in Computing Society groups attending the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2024 in Philadelphia took full advantage of opportunities for professional development, networking and industry insights that support their growth in technology fields.
The GHC, hosted by the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology, is the world’s largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists, with a mission to bring the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. From engaging with industry experts on emerging AI trends and responsible technology to connecting with mentors and peers who share their ambitions, the students returned with fresh perspectives and skills to apply both in and beyond their classrooms.
This year’s conference was devoted to various AI-related topics, with particular attention to issues related to gender bias. Students attended select information and discussion sessions and compiled their findings in a presentation delivered to members of the faculty and administration in the Ying Wu College of Computing (YWCC).
The subject of responsible AI was approached from the perspective of integrity and accuracy in information, a common part of current public discourse, especially regarding security, but with attention to how societal biases can affect data.
This conference gave me a view of what I want to be as an AI leader...
Undergraduate student Xitlaly Prado cited that “AI is based on what it learns from and what it is given and then attempts to replicate it,” and uses the example of how women are more likely to be sexualized in generative images, even in the context of child-friendly material.
According to graduate student Benazir Islam, generative AI will only become more human when large language models are designed to respect societal values, promote inclusivity and ensure sustainability. She further points to the fact that because only 12 out of the 150 top AI startups are led by women, a greater call for diversity and inclusivity is critical to reflect the range of human experiences in AI.
Professor Jim Geller is the advisor for the Women in Computing Society groups and was alongside the students at the conference. Long a champion for advancing opportunities for women in computing, Geller stressed the importance of having his students attend GHC every year. According to him, many female students sometimes feel lonely and isolated in largely male classrooms. The conference allows them to be among 20,000 people just like themselves who are making bold strides, not only in technical innovation, but in increasing visibility for the significant contributions made by women in tech throughout history.
One of his most gratifying experiences in recent memory was meeting three former students who had attended the conference several years ago and were now recruiting women on behalf of their companies.
He also felt extremely fortunate to have the strong support of Provost and Senior Vice President John Pelesko, who took advantage of the conference’s proximity to New Jersey to attend.
“I told [the provost] that no amount of explaining GHC will ever work. You just have to experience it for yourself,” Geller said.
"It was an amazing experience to see every major U.S. company that has anything to do with software in one place, and thousands of attendants milling about, interviewing, attending lectures and just radiating youthful energy," said Pelesko.
WiCs (Trang Dang, Vibha Venkataraman, Haley Patel, Xitlaly Prado, Tina Thai, Delali Kumapley and Lakshita Madhavan) and GWiCs (Shweta Shardul, Ramita Deshmukh, Benazir Islam and Tejal Desai) recognized Geller, Pelesko and YWCC Dean Jamie Payton for making it possible to attend GHC 2024, this year and in the future. They also gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided through the Grace Hopper AI Research Institute at NJIT.
“This conference gave me a view of what I want to be as an AI leader and what still needs to be done when considering the importance of ethics in what we will do,” Patel remarked.
