AI’s Future Is Being Decided Now-And Women Must Be In The Room, Says Governance Advisor Johnson

Bennett Oghifo

In recognition of International Women’s Day, AI governance advisor Toyin Johnson is issuing an urgent call to action: women must be actively involved in shaping AI governance frameworks, or risk being governed by AI systems designed without their voices, perspectives, or interests. “AI is not gender-neutral,” Ms. Johnson states. “It’s being designed, deployed, and governed primarily by men. When women are excluded from AI governance, the systems being built reflect that exclusion in hiring algorithms that screen out mothers, credit models that disadvantage women entrepreneurs, healthcare AI trained on male-only data, and workplace automation that disproportionately eliminates roles held by women. The technology that will shape the next 50 years is being designed right now.

Women remain underrepresented in AI related roles globally, and their voices are still too often missing from the leadership and governance structures shaping these technologies. This matters because when AI systems are built, tested, and deployed without sufficient diversity of perspective, they can reinforce existing inequalities in areas such as hiring, lending, and access to services. Concerns have already been raised globally about recruitment tools that disadvantage women returning to work after maternity leave and credit models that fail to reflect the realities of many women entrepreneurs.

Ms. Johnson is calling for concrete action. Organizations must mandate gender diversity on AI governance committees (minimum 30-40% representation, not tokenism), audit existing AI for gender bias, include women in procurement decisions, promote women into AI leadership roles, and compensate governance work as recognized responsibility. Policymakers must require gender impact assessments for AI systems, fund women-led research on AI bias and governance, and include women from every sector in national AI strategies. “AI governed by diverse voices produces better outcomes for everyone,” Ms. Johnson states. “When women are involved in AI governance, we get systems that are more fair, more thorough, more accountable, and more aligned with human dignity. We’re at a pivotal moment.

Moreover, I have learned through personal experiences, including widowhood, that many existing financial and social systems overlook the realities faced by women who outlive their spouses. This has underscored the need for inclusive systems that account for diverse life experiences. By fostering coalition building among governments, industries, and communities, we can ensure accountability and create a world that values every voice.The reality is clear: decisions about the future of AI are being made now, and women’s presence in these discussions is imperative. They must not just be observers but active participants in shaping a fair and equitable future for all.