CWAJ celebrated International Women’s Day by holding a well-attended talk event for the general public to increase our visibility. The event was held March 6 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, with the title Inclusion Through Innovation: Can AI Bridge the Gender Gap in Society?
A recording was made, and the Japanese video with auto-generated English subtitles is available for Members only at this Membership password-protected web page: https://cw3saoj.wildapricot.org/Videos.
Featuring a panel of three distinguished experts and scholars in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and gendered innovation and equality, this year’s talk event focused on the intersection of AI and gender equality. The speakers explained how existing gender biases can be embedded into science and technology and discussed the potential of AI in advancing gender and social equity in Japan.
The panel included the speakers Masako Ishii-Kuntz, trustee and vice president of Ochanomizu University, overseeing research, international relations, and gender equality, as well as the director of the Institute for Gendered Innovations; Izumi Nitta, senior research manager at the AI Innovation Core Project, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Research Unit at Fujitsu Limited, and visiting associate professor at Ochanomizu University; and Yuko Itatsu, professor at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo, director of the B’AI Global Forum, and a former CWAJ Study Abroad Scholar. In addition to the speakers, the event was moderated by Mari Christine, a cross-cultural communicator and adjunct lecturer at Tokyo Women’s University and the chairperson of the Tokyo Connectedness Creation Foundation.
An overarching message throughout the evening was the importance of increasing women’s representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) industries and the critical role of social sciences and humanities in shaping the future of AI. Both the moderator and members of the audience raised interesting questions related to prejudices against women in education, working culture, and the healthcare industry in Japan, generating thought-provoking discussion on how technology could be leveraged to combat gender stereotypes and improve women’s experiences and everyday lives.
More than 70 attendees took part in this year’s event, including several media representatives and former CWAJ scholars. The event not only highlighted key issues surrounding gender equality and AI but also served as an important platform for raising awareness about CWAJ and the organization’s ongoing efforts. Moving forward, CWAJ remains committed to its mission of advancing women’s empowerment and fostering greater opportunities for women across various sectors in Japan.
