IGF2024: Wipro Expert Calls for Fair, Transparent AI and Closing the Digital Gender Gap.

The Chief Privacy & AI Governance Officer at Wipro, Ms. Ivana Bartoletti has emphasized the urgent need for inclusive and ethical digital ecosystems.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh, Ms. Bartoletti highlighted the transformative potential of technology while addressing the pressing challenges it presents, including the digital gender gap, privacy concerns, and the governance of artificial intelligence (AI).

“We are at a watershed moment in the relationship between humanity and technology,” Ms. Bartoletti stated, acknowledging the strides made in fields like precision medicine and personalized education.

However, she also called attention to the darker aspects of technological advancements, such as misinformation, hate speech, and deepfakes. “Sometimes, over the last few years, we’ve seen some pretty bad things,” she noted, citing the harmful impact of deepfakes, particularly on women and vulnerable groups.

Ms. Bartoletti outlined three key priorities for building an equitable digital future. First, she called for urgent action to address the digital gender divide, describing it as “not acceptable.”

She warned against the perpetuation of societal biases in AI systems due to a lack of diversity. “Bias in AI can softwareize and crystallize the society as it is today whilst we work together towards a brighter future,” she said, urging stakeholders to prioritize gender diversity in AI development.

Secondly, Ms. Bartoletti stressed the need to reconcile privacy with innovation, rejecting the notion of a trade-off between the two. “Privacy and innovation can go hand in hand,” she argued, adding that privacy should be treated as a fundamental public good.

Finally, Bartoletti emphasized the importance of robust AI governance, advocating for transparency and accountability in how AI systems process and use data. “Governance of AI is not a nice-to-have,” she said, highlighting the role of frameworks like the European AI Act and urging further collaboration between governments and the private sector.

Concluding her address, Ms. Bartoletti described the present moment as a unique opportunity to redefine humanity’s relationship with technology. “The time to shape the relationship between humanity and technology is exactly now,” she asserted, encouraging attendees to work together to create a digital ecosystem that benefits everyone.

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