AI is everywhere—writing our emails, summarizing meetings, even deciding who gets a loan or what healthcare someone receives. Tools like ChatGPT have turned us into productivity powerhouses, saving time and cutting through clutter. But here’s the kicker: while we’re marveling at how AI simplifies life, we’re overlooking the massive ethical, societal, and environmental implications that come with it.

Who’s programming this tech? Who benefits? And most importantly—who gets left behind?

Enter “conscious AI”: a way of designing, deploying, and interacting with AI that prioritizes intention, inclusion, and ethics. For women in tech, and for all historically excluded groups, this conversation is urgent. The future of AI depends on diverse voices challenging the systems that are shaping our world.

What Is Conscious AI?

“Conscious AI is about looking beyond what the AI is intended to do and instead considering all the factors used to create the AI model and the externalities created by the AI model,” says Bo Young Lee, President of Research & Advisory at AnitaB.org and AI Ethicist. This means scrutinizing EVERY aspect:

• What data was used to train this model?
• Where did that data come from, and was it stolen or collected ethically?
• Who cleaned and labeled the data, and were they treated fairly?
• What’s the environmental impact of the data centers powering AI systems?
• Who benefits from these tools, and who’s harmed by their biases?

Without these considerations, AI can perpetuate harmful practices like predatory surveillance, biased hiring, or inequitable healthcare outcomes. Dr. Joy Buolamwini, Author and AI Researcher, coined the term “The Coded Gaze” to describe “a reflection of those who have the power to shape technologies that shape our world.” This highlights how the biases embedded in AI systems often reflect the values (or blind spots) of those creating them.

That’s where being conscious of the AI we use comes in. We must go beyond the “shiny object” appeal of new technologies and address the externalities—intended and unintended—that they create.

If We Don’t Consciously Use AI, What’s at Stake?

“At the extreme, people will die if AI is used without thought to the implications and biases of the system,” warns Bo Young Lee. AI has the power to transform our world in a positive way, but without ethics, it’s a double-edged sword. If fairness, transparency, and accountability aren’t present at every stage, technology meant to improve lives could end up reinforcing the inequities we’re trying to dismantle.

Dr. Buolamwini reminds us that “it goes from amusing to serious when we start looking at the use of AI systems in our real world.” Nondetection and misgendering in AI systems are more than technical glitches—they can perpetuate harm, especially for historically excluded communities. Predatory AI practices already show the harm unchecked systems can do:

• Surveillance Exploitation: Tools collecting and monetizing user data without consent.
• Algorithmic Bias: Hiring platforms that downrank women and people of color or healthcare systems that deprioritize historically excluded groups.
• Misinformation Amplification: Systems that spread falsehoods, deepening social divides.

Unlike pharmaceuticals, which undergo rigorous testing to ensure benefits outweigh harm, AI systems are often deployed without even basic safety checks. Whether it’s defense, healthcare, or journalism, most AI operates without accountability or oversight. This lack of regulation has real-world consequences, sometimes with life-or-death stakes.

Four Steps to Employing Conscious AI

Artificial Intelligence tools can be super useful to us, but without intention and awareness, they can perpetuate harm. Here’s four steps you can take to ensure the AI tools you use align with your values:

1. Educate Yourself: Understand how AI systems work. Learn about their data inputs, algorithms, and outputs to recognize potential biases.
2. Ask Tough Questions: What’s the source of the data? Who trained the model, and are diverse perspectives represented?
3. Evaluate Tools: Use AI ethics scorecards or trusted organizational resources to determine whether a system aligns with your values.
4. Challenge Outputs: Don’t accept AI results at face value. Scrutinize decisions for fairness and bias and push back when something doesn’t sit right.

It’s just as important to choose the AI you use as it is something like choosing a data source. You must be conscious of what you’re using and supporting, no matter the pros it presents.

What’s the Goal of Conscious AI?

Although it sounds like a theory, conscious AI is a practical approach to building and using technology that prioritizes fairness, accessibility, and accountability. When the aforementioned four steps are used, they can culminate in positive changes in AI like:

• Transparent Hiring Tools: AI tools that offer unbiased rankings and consider diverse candidate profiles, ensuring fair hiring processes.
• Accessible AI for Historically Excluded Groups: AI systems designed with accessibility in mind, empowering historically excluded groups by providing tools that meet their unique needs.
• AI Tools That Combat Bias: Platforms actively programmed to identify and correct biases in data, creating more inclusive, equitable solutions.

Practicing conscious use of AI on a personal level means challenging how you approach technology. Use the questions listed earlier to vet AI tools as you go. We can all contribute to a more ethical and inclusive AI landscape.

The Role of Women in Shaping Inclusive AI

As Dr. Buolamwini notes, “oftentimes critical data sets are not reflecting the rest of the world.” The future of AI depends on diverse voices, and women play a critical role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable tech landscape. When teams reflect varied backgrounds and perspectives, the technology they create is more likely to serve everyone—not just a privileged few.

Yet, barriers to inclusion persist. Women, especially those from historically excluded groups, are often left out of AI development processes. This lack of representation perpetuates biases and systemic inequalities, leading to AI systems that can harm entire communities.

The consequences of unethical AI extend beyond convenience or fairness. At its worst, AI systems designed without diverse input or ethical oversight can cause real harm, even endangering lives. It’s not that people are making intentionally unethical decisions—it’s that they believe the choices they make are devoid of ethical consequence.

Nonprofits like AnitaB.org play a crucial role in this movement. By connecting women in tech with resources, mentorship, and a powerful network, AnitaB.org empowers members to challenge biases, push for accountability, and design AI systems that work for everyone.

Together, We Can Build Ethical, Inclusive AI

Conscious AI is about intention, inclusion, and accountability. It’s about ensuring that the technology we rely on works for everyone—not just a privileged few.

Join AnitaB.org Membership today to:

• Stay informed on ethical AI practices.
• Access resources for developing inclusive tech solutions.
• Connect with a community shaping the future of AI.

Let’s create a tech world where ethics and innovation go hand in hand, ensuring AI serves humanity—fairly, equitably, and consciously.