Principal Author: Charlotte TaoÂ
Contributing Author: Karen Jensen
Table of contents
What are the essential skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an AI career?
What are some of the common challenges faced by professionals in AI, and how can they be overcome?Â
How do you see the future of AI evolving in the next 5-10 years?
Can you discuss some of the most exciting projects you've worked on in the AI space?
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in an AI career?
What are the ethical considerations that AI professionals must keep in mind?
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in AI?
About the Speaker Series and the panel
As part of our 2024 Speaker Series, the Ethics and Culture Office at Women in AI hosted an engaging discussion on December 12, 2024. This final panel of the year featured insights on how to shape a meaningful career in the field of AI. Moderated by Karen Jensen, the session included valuable perspectives from panelists Branislava (Brana) Lovre and Giulia Solinas.
Please find links to the panelists’ LinkedIn profiles below.
Karen Jensen (moderator)
Sahaj Vaidya (unable to attend today’s session)Â
The session delved into the panelists’ professional journeys, their strategies for navigating AI careers, and practical advice for building a strong foundation in this dynamic industry. They were also asked a series of questions on how to develop a career pathway in AI. Their responses have been summarized here. Explore more from this year’s Speaker Series and past events by visiting our blog or checking out the WAI Talks hosted by the Ethics and Culture Office. (Links to each blog are included at the end of this blog).
Welcome from Bhuva Shakti
Bhuva Shakti, Chief Ethics and Culture Officer at Women in AI, opened the session by reflecting on the Speaker Series’ achievements this year. The Ethics and Culture office Speaker Series is focused on Ethical and Cultural AI, but our global initiatives include Education, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Research. Our mission at Women in AI is to make AI accessible and inclusive for everyone, with a special focus on women and girls.
Welcome to our last speaker session of the year!
Panel discussion
Can you share your journey and career progression in the AI field and what inspired you to pursue a career in this discipline?
Brana: Brana began by reflecting on her career path from journalism to the field of AI. She is a journalist, an AI Ethics consultant, and the Co-founder of AImpactful. With over two decades of experience in media, she has dedicated her career to connecting communication, technology, and AI ethics. As generative AI gained momentum, Brana expanded her expertise by continuously learning, testing applications, and incorporating these advancements into her work. She also founded a media outlet and a dedicated newsroom to highlight AI-related stories and create awareness around responsible AI adoption.
Giulia: As a Data Scientist and AI Consultant at CroZ in Munich, Germany, Giulia shared her transition from academia to industry. With a strong academic background, her passion lies in mentoring others in AI and helping them uncover patterns within data. After her career in academia, where the work was heavily theory-driven, Giulia shifted to consulting, a move that allowed her to work directly with clients and tackle real-world business challenges. She expressed excitement about solving practical problems and creating tangible value through her work.
What are the essential skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an AI career?
Giulia: There are many ways to enter the field of AI. Success isn’t tied to a specific background but rather to the willingness to learn. The key is understanding how AI can impact your work and leveraging the unique perspectives you bring. While academic training in AI is available, there are also plenty of online resources. Open-source communities, in particular, are an excellent way to learn and collaborate.
What are some of the common challenges faced by professionals in AI, and how can they be overcome?Â
Giulia: Translating AI concepts into plain language for business stakeholders is one of the biggest challenges. Breaking down complex ideas into digestible pieces for broader audiences requires ongoing effort. Another common hurdle is the high failure rate of AI projects. Failures are part of the process and provide valuable lessons to build toward eventual success.
Brana: Competition for top roles in AI is fierce, which makes it essential to combine AI expertise with domain knowledge, like healthcare or finance. Internships and co-ops are great ways to stand out in the job market. Imposter syndrome is another challenge; many feel unqualified, which affects their confidence and career growth. Overcoming this requires recognizing that AI is a field of lifelong learning, celebrating small wins, and connecting with peers and organizations to build support and confidence.
How do you see the future of AI evolving in the next 5-10 years?
Karen: This is not the first major evolution of technology. While some jobs may become obsolete, others will emerge, leading to significant changes in how work is done. What are your thoughts on how AI will impact jobs and shape careers in the future?
Brana: the purpose of technology is to assist us, not harm us. In fields like journalism, AI tools are already automating everyday tasks such as transcription. These tools improve workflow efficiency, but human oversight remains critical to maintaining quality and ethics. The true value of AI lies in its ability to handle repetitive tasks, freeing people to focus on more meaningful and creative work.
Giulia: The changes brought by AI are happening much sooner than expected—within the next 2-3 years rather than 5-10. A great example is coding with AI, where developers are just beginning to explore its potential. Although there is a learning curve, the productivity gains will become evident quickly. Organizations should focus on reskilling and upskilling their workforce to prepare for these rapid shifts. Building AI for good is an excellent direction to ensure technological advancements benefit society as a whole.
Can you discuss some of the most exciting projects you've worked on in the AI space?
Brana: I am one of the co-founders of AImpactful (aimpactful.com), a media outlet that not only reports on AI but also uses it in our operations. We run newsrooms, organize workshops, and mentor others, all while integrating AI into our workflows.Â
Our mission at AImpactful is to bring AI into everyday conversations, making it understandable to both beginners and experts. Beyond just explaining the technology, we focus on the ethical implications of AI. Education and community engagement are at the heart of what we do, which is why we offer pro bono training on topics like AI literacy and implementation to help others adopt AI responsibly and ethically.
Karen: AI is a big word that encompasses many technologies. While much of the current focus is on generative AI, it’s worth exploring other applications as well. How is AI evolving in your organization, Giulia?
Giulia: At CroZ, we are working on both generative AI and traditional machine learning projects. One of our current generative AI initiatives involves building an assistant to address the challenges of old legacy code in finance. Many financial systems still rely on code written in the 1970s and 1980s by developers who have long retired. New developers often struggle with these systems because they lack familiarity with the old coding methods.
In this project, we leverage the power of large language models (LLMs). By fine-tuning these models and enriching them with finance-specific context provided by our clients, we help bridge the gap. It’s a technical challenge, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see how LLMs can bring fresh solutions to such a complex problem.
How important is interdisciplinary knowledge (e.g., combining AI with biology, psychology, etc.) in advancing AI technologies?
Brana: Interdisciplinary knowledge is crucial for advancing AI because it brings people together. AI isn’t just about technology; it’s about understanding the world and solving problems that reflect humanity. Voices from fields like design, art, education, and psychology add creativity and depth. The goal isn’t just smarter systems but stronger connections to the real world. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, we’re not just shaping AI’s future but building a more connected world.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in an AI career?
Giulia: Start by networking in communities where you can learn and contribute. Identify the job you’re targeting and assess the skill gaps you need to address. Drawing from my experience, even though I knew how to code, generative AI was new to me. Don’t hesitate to learn from others’ career journeys. Online AI courses are a great way to enhance your profile and make yourself stand out in job applications.
Brana: The most important step is to just start. Pick an AI tool and try it. If you’re unsure, focus on areas where you need the most help. For instance, I used AI tools for transcription to save time and avoid tedious work, and with human oversight, the results were accurate and efficient. AI evolves rapidly, and no one knows everything, so embrace continuous learning. Take online courses or explore resources to grow your knowledge. AI can complement your current career and provide skills to share with others in the future.
What are the ethical considerations that AI professionals must keep in mind?
Karen: The panelists come from diverse backgrounds and work under various ethical frameworks, such as the EU AI Act or industry-specific standards in finance and journalism. How do you merge these standards to ensure AI is used for good?
Brana: Data privacy, protection, bias, and copyright issues are critical when adopting ethical AI. In journalism, it’s essential to keep the public informed with transparency. For instance, when AI generates content, users should know how it’s created and the data used. Research shows audiences want clarity without being overwhelmed, such as distinguishing between AI-generated and human-created content.
AI ethical guidelines, like those used in journalism, rely on awareness and critical thinking. Engaging everyone in discussions about ethics fosters ownership and collaboration, making it easier to adopt standards. The future of ethical AI depends on working together.
Giulia: Ethics is equally vital in finance, governed by frameworks like DORA and the EU AI Act. From a technical standpoint, frameworks must ensure models are auditable to comply with regulations. Tools like IBM Watson and Databricks lead the way by documenting core modeling metrics for auditors.
Starting conversations about ethics with stakeholders like product owners and business teams is critical. Small and medium enterprises often lack dedicated AI ethics committees, so building literacy around governance and ethical AI is essential for progress.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in AI?
Giulia: Staying updated comes from learning by doing. Experimenting with different tools, tech stacks, and vendors helps track how technology evolves. Personal interest also plays a big role. I run my own newsletter, AI Ã la Carte, which encourages me to explore new developments in the field and see how others are interpreting the technology.
Brana: Hands-on experimentation is key to staying current. I follow research platforms, industry blogs, and thought leaders on social media, and I find conferences, meetups, and panel discussions like this one invaluable. Trying new AI tools, sharing experiences with colleagues, taking free courses, and reading books are all great ways to stay engaged. Conversations with others in AI further broaden perspectives and spark new ideas.
Ending remarks
Brana: Every expert starts somewhere, and while the journey can be challenging, each step forward is progress. Be curious, and open to learning, and don’t hesitate to start. Success in AI isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s also about creativity and problem-solving. Build connections, embrace the power of communities, and seek advice, just like in today’s discussion.
Karen: As mentioned in our previous event, resources like Stanford University’s Code in Place course are excellent for beginners. Don’t forget to explore Brana’s pro bono resources and Giulia’s newsletter for further learning. Stay tuned for our future events to continue your journey in AI.
Bhuva: Bhuva wrapped up the session with a recap of the discussion, emphasizing the importance of building on existing skills and learning from sectors like finance and journalism to integrate AI ethics effectively. She thanked Karen and the volunteers for organizing the event and invited participants to stay connected with Women in AI through the global LinkedIn page. She also highlighted upcoming industry-specific workshops, the newly designed expert showcase, and the blog page (https://www.womeninai.co/blog) for a 2024 year-in-review.
Takeaways and learning
AI opens opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration: AI thrives when combined with diverse perspectives from fields like design, art, psychology, and education. Integrating these disciplines fosters creativity, enhances problem-solving, and connects AI solutions to real-world challenges.
Learning by doing accelerates AI adoption: Experimenting with AI tools, exploring new tech stacks, and engaging with resources like online courses and open-source communities are crucial for staying updated and building skills. Hands-on experience and continuous curiosity drive meaningful progress.
AI career pathways are accessible to everyone: Breaking into AI doesn’t require a specific background. Focus on identifying skill gaps and leveraging your unique expertise. Online resources, communities, and networking provide valuable entry points for professionals across industries.
Ethical AI requires collaboration and transparency: Adopting AI standards involves addressing key issues like data privacy, bias, and copyright while fostering a culture of transparency. Engaging stakeholders from various fields ensures responsible and inclusive AI development.
Event recording
You can view the recording of the event using this link.
Ethics & Culture Team
Please see the links below to our Team’s profiles on LinkedIn.
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