Keynote: Practical Steps for Tackling Bias in Software Engineering in the Age of AI

Open Source In Finance Forum 2024 - London
Presented by Prachi Kasodhan, Microsoft; Lee-Ann Sansom & Declan O'Gorman, NatWest Group; Jason Smith Publicis Groupe & Moderated by Rimma Perelmuter, FINOS
Title: Keynote: Practical Steps for Tackling Bias in Software Engineering in the Age of AI
Abstract: Diversity is a cornerstone of innovation, driving better outcomes in technology and innovation. Despite the known benefits, gender diversity and equity continue to pose challenges in software development in financial services and beyond. Open Source is a crucial space for addressing algorithmic fairness, and FSIs have an outsized influence on society, so focusing on this sector is set to be game-changing.
As the Open Source Foundation for Fintech and part of the Linux Foundation, FINOS has a strategic DEI initiative focused on how financial services & open source communities can best adapt to tackle these issues. Since launching in 2022, the DEI SIG has achieved strong momentum, increasing awareness and the participation of underrepresented groups at our annual & community events. For 2024, we have set further goals to create expanded SIG leadership and contributor opportunities, prioritize plans to develop, advance, and retain diverse talent, and ensure that FINOS projects and software development are inclusive and diverse.
Our panel will explore strategies and actions to foster meaningful participation, create inclusive environments, and address the biases that having non-diverse teams and skewed data can unintentionally drive into software applications and AI models. Drawing on the best practices of our members and AI fairness/accessibility experts, FINOS will share best practices on tackling bias around new Gen AI models and software to avoid bias, drive inclusion and ensure conformance to regulation such as the ethical and responsibility standards set forth in the AI Act and beyond. Equally, we will draw on FINOS' forthcoming AI and DEI work, bringing together FSIs and tech players to ensure that trust, inclusion, and safety are at the heart of AI and software development and raising the bar towards a more equitable and inclusive future in tech.
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LinkedIn: / finosfoundation
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