Written by Erica Farmer, AI and Future Skills Speaker, Trainer and Author
Every time I stand on an AI conference stage, I find myself asking the same question:
Why am I still one of the few women here?
For a technology that is supposedly shaping the future of work for everyone, AI events often paint a very different picture. Too many conference agendas, expert panels, podcasts and forums continue to be dominated by male voices. You see it proudly displayed on LinkedIn all the time.
In fact, there’s even a term for it: the “Manel” – an all-male / dominantly male panel discussing a topic that affects all of us and the frustrating part isn’t that people don’t realise it. It’s only when that gets called out, the excuses arrive almost immediately.
“We couldn’t find any women.”
“We’ve got women speaking at other events.”
“It’s just this one photo.”
Trust me, I’ve heard them all. And whether I’m a sceptic or not, I don’t believe any of them.
More considered actions are needed by all.
Representation isn’t solved by adding one woman to a conference brochure or pointing to another event where women happen to be speaking. It’s about visibility, influence and the signals we send about who belongs in a space. Because if you can see it, you can be it and that phrase matters enormously in AI.
When women look at conference stages, media coverage and industry commentary and repeatedly see men positioned as the experts, innovators and visionaries, it subtly reinforces the message that AI is a male domain.
Women are leading AI strategy, driving adoption, conducting research, building products, shaping governance and helping organisations navigate one of the biggest transformations of our generation. Yet too often they remain less visible, and this isn’t good enough.
This isn’t just a gender issue. It’s an innovation issue.
The organisations making the best decisions about AI are bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences. When the same voices dominate the conversation, we risk building blind spots into the future we are creating.
There is another interesting observation that often sparks debate when I raise it in my keynotes and social media posts. Think about the names we have given technology over the past decade; many of the most well-known digital assistants have traditionally had female identities and voices.
Siri. Alexa. Cortana. – Helpful. Supportive. Assistive.
Now look at some of the AI tools positioned as thinkers, creators and intelligence partners.
Claude. Jasper. Harvey (a legal specific LLM). Grok (not a typical name but positioned with a distinctively male personality).
The contrast is difficult to ignore.
Of course, no single product name proves systemic bias. But collectively these choices reflect something deeper about the assumptions society still makes regarding gender and the roles we associate with intelligence, authority and support. And they can reinforce stereotypes at precisely the moment we have an opportunity to create something different.
Leadership action, activation and awareness is needed now.
So, what should leaders do?
Firstly, notice it.
Representation problems cannot be solved if we pretend they don’t exist.
Secondly, challenge it.
If you’re organising an event, ask why the speaker shortlist lacks diversity. It should be a balanced split including men, women and those who identify as another gender or group.
It’s easier than you think to make the difference.
If you’re invited onto a panel, ask who else is speaking. If you’re commissioning thought leadership, consider whose voices are being amplified.
And thirdly in my list, educate others.
Many people genuinely don’t see these patterns until someone points them out. Raising awareness isn’t about blame. It’s about creating better conversations and better outcomes. It’s about creating allies and explaining the impact of decisions.
And finally, be visible.
For women working in AI, your voice matters. Your perspective matters. Your experience matters. The next generation of talent is watching you and every article written, podcast recorded, keynote delivered and opinion shared helps expand what people believe is possible.
AI will shape the future of work, learning and society itself and that future will be better if the people shaping it reflect the diversity of the people who will live and work within it.
Representation is not a side conversation – It is part of building responsible, inclusive and effective AI.
And it’s time we all challenged the norm.
