Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the business is critical from both a financial and strategic standpoint, according to an increasing amount of studies. Joe Edwards, Director of Product Marketing at UiPath, posed a pertinent question to top AI and automation experts during a recent panel discussion on “Diverse perspectives in AI”: Is representation in AI ecosystems as important for advancement as it is for an organization?
Panelists Floyd Newsum III (Managing Director at RPA (HK), Ltd.), Keena Byrd, PhD (UX Research Leader at UiPath), and Jarel Hawkins (IA & AI Executive / CxO Advisor), all held positions at some of the most prestigious tech companies in the world, shared their perspectives on why inclusive AI at work will improve innovation and performance. They also discussed the factors that CEOs should think about while developing, evaluating, and refining the generative AI that is completely changing the way that businesses operate.
The Foundation Of A Strong AI Ecosystem Is Representation
Natural language is the driving force behind GenAI, which makes it highly promising and exciting for a wider range of individuals, groups, and institutions.
But in order to realize that promise to the fullest, AI testers, developers, and users need to be as varied as the communities that the technology is meant to improve. One of the most important things to do is to make sure that any AI that learns from us is not biased by humans. For another, diverse viewpoints result in better organizations and goods.
According to Newsum, “inclusion is a lightning rod for innovation.”
Hawkins agreed, saying, “Diversity is about everyone, and that’s not an opinion, it’s math.” “Don’t believe anything I say. Examine the diversity prediction theory. It states that high-ability problem solvers with less variation can be outperformed by low-ability solvers with more variability.
Additionally, your bottom line will benefit more from having people and systems that are more creative and productive.
“The discussions about inclusive workplaces need to be more honest,” Newsum stated. “Diversity is smart business strategy, but it’s often framed as a charitable act when we talk about diversity and inclusion.”
Indeed, clever. According to a 2023 McKinsey study, top-quartile companies with diverse executive teams had a 39 percent higher average chance of outperforming their competitors financially. According to a Boston Consulting Group survey, businesses with more diverse executive teams earned 19% higher innovation revenue than those with less diverse teams.
Newsum argued, “We can argue back and forth about the social benefits, but money is also a factor.”
Extending The Meaning Of “Diversity”
Diversity is typically associated with race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. However, the panelists felt that the definition might be too limited. Giving chances to applicants whose resumes do not exactly match job descriptions is also very important. Put differently, look for variety in your experiences as well.
Hawkins spoke to his own experience in this area, having designed his career to get extensive but profound experience throughout the engineer-to-executive spectrum.
“There are these implicit and hidden personas for roles, especially in tech,” he said. “Oh, you’re too technical for a product tech role,” I’ve been told. That is not logical. What are you trying to say?
Hawkins urged corporate executives to look beyond conventional role personas as they contemplate how diversity impacts their AI-powered organizations. Novel insights from individuals with a range of cross-functional experience can make the difference between innovation and stagnation.
GenAI Has The Potential To Empower Allies
GenAI is available to everyone, so you no longer need to be an expert or programmer to realize AI’s revolutionary potential. Additionally, it will develop into a powerful equalizer if it is created by and learns from a wide pool of individuals.
This democratization is the driving force behind UiPath AutopilotTM, a suite of innovative AI-powered experiences across the UiPath Business Automation Platform. It increases productivity for every user, from CEOs to interns.
According to Byrd, “Autopilot will enable non-specialists to use systems to augment their skills.” “If someone can use something like Autopilot to uplevel their skills, that will bridge a gap. Take someone who hasn’t had access to a certain level of training and education.”
These ‘bridged gaps’ have important human and financial ramifications. As new communities gain the ability to create, they will incorporate their varied backgrounds and specialties into GenAI’s learning models.
“I consider Autopilot and similar GenAI tools to be an enabler for all communities, but especially for marginalized communities,” Newsum stated. “People who may not have previously been involved in this industry may start to recognize new opportunities.”
Give Inclusive AI Top Priority Now For Long-Term Gains
In the end, time is critical. The panelists were unambiguous when they said that companies run the risk of failing to prioritize diversity as a strategic business concern. Furthermore, given how quickly AI technology is developing, it’s imperative to put best practices into effect right away.
Byrd counseled, “People need to invest [in inclusivity] early.” The larger your team gets, the more difficult it is to alter the culture and composition of the group.
Hawkins concurred and advised leaders to ascertain the “why,” relate it to the bottom line, and then distribute resources suitably. Businesses that use inclusive AI and inclusive teams will dominate their market and spur innovation.
“Both operationally and financially, businesses can benefit from diversity,” Newsum said. “It’s profitable and the proper thing to do. Finding things that align so beautifully is uncommon.