March 8th is International Women's Day! To celebrate - AIClub is once again releasing our diversity stats - showing how AI can be instrumental in bringing girls to STEM
Why AI for Girls Matters
In the early days of computing, women took roles at the forefront, with notable examples including Grace Hopper and Katherine Johson. However, as the computing field matured, the percentage of girls dropped off. With AI, we are at the beginning of a new tech revolution that promises to be as large if not larger than anything we have seen before. Now is the time to ensure that girls are not left behind.
How AI brings girls to STEM
From the first days of AIClub, we have noticed a very positive phenomenon - AI can bring girls to STEM! Why? One possible reason is the multi-disciplinary nature of AI. In our classes and Research Institute, students explore AI use in applications ranging from climate science, cybersecurity, and healthcare, to music, sports, art, and literature. Every student can explore the intersection between AI, STEM, and their areas of passion, making the experience equally appealing to all.
The data
The data proves it. In our classes, 39.81% of students are girls (compared to around 20% for computer science). Among students who move forward to advanced projects, competitions and research publications, roughly 50% are girls. We started seeing positive statistics in this area in 2021, and are extremely proud that the statistics of 2024 reveal the same trend.
What does this mean?
If you are a girl and would like to pursue tech, do not be scared! There is something in AI for everyone, and you can solve problems that you care about. If you are a parent or a teacher, consider introducing your kids to AI so that they can be empowered to be technology-enabled problem solvers and leaders in any future they choose.
You can find more details about our diversity stats here.