AI Through the Lens of an Ethnic Minority Woman
I felt the weight of representation early on in, and I took it as a challenge. As an Indian girl, I wasn’t just trying to succeed—I was determined to make my mark, to prove that I belonged, and to thrive despite any obstacles. The belief that I had to work twice as hard was instilled in me and as I went through school and in my wider social setting, it became evident why. Prejudice wasn’t always explicit, but it was there, quietly reminding me that I was different. I used that as fuel—to excel, to be seen for my capabilities, and to define myself on my own terms rather than letting others define me.
Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted—now we talk about Artificial Intelligence and how it can change the world. But what strikes me is that even in this seemingly neutral, futuristic technology, the same biases have found a home. Research has shown that AI, in its training data, is often riddled with bias—bias against people who look like me, against women, against those who don’t fit the mould of what society has traditionally uplifted. It feels like standing in front of a mirror, one that reflects back the same prejudices that I’ve faced my whole life. Yet, I don’t see this as a defeat. The technology that’s supposed to be objective and innovative is showing the cracks and flaws of the society that built it—and that means we have an opportunity to fix it.
I have always lived in a world where my colour and gender have been prominent—features that shaped the way others viewed me, and features that have made me work harder to be seen for who I truly am. And now, with AI, it’s as if the societal biases I’ve experienced have been amplified, captured in algorithms and datasets, and fed back to us as ‘truth.’ But this reflection is also a chance to do something about it. It’s a powerful reminder that we have an opportunity here—a chance to look at these biases not as an inevitable flaw but as something we can address and change.
This mirror that AI holds up to society should be seen as a call to action. It forces us to confront the discrimination embedded in our data, the flaws in our systems, and the prejudices in our thinking. It should be an opportunity to make things right, to create technology that’s better than the society it comes from. AI doesn’t have to be a reflection of the past—it can be a tool for shaping a more equitable future. But only if we are honest about the work that needs to be done. We can’t let AI replicate the injustices that we’ve fought for so long to overcome. Instead, we must demand more from it, use it as a means to challenge biases, to lift up voices that have long been silenced, and to create a future where everyone can thrive without fear.
We have a choice. We can allow AI to become just another extension of a biased society, or we can use it as an opportunity to address the inequities that have plagued us for too long. The choice to use this mirror as a tool for change is ours, and I am confident that we can rise to the challenge and shape a better future for all.