Have you ever wondered why some of the most innovative AI solutions still miss the mark for large segments of the population? The answer might lie in who's actually building and implementing these technologies. Today, we're diving into a crucial conversation about representation in AI - specifically, why having Latina voices at the table isn't just about diversity metrics, it's about creating better, more effective AI solutions for everyone.
The truth is, AI is reshaping every aspect of our world, from how businesses operate to how we solve complex social problems. But here's the challenge: when the teams developing these technologies don't reflect the diversity of our society, we end up with blind spots that can limit AI's potential and even perpetuate existing inequalities.
That's why I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Nayana Guerrero, a pioneering researcher and educator who's not only studying these issues but actively working to change them. Dr. Guerrero has made remarkable contributions to our understanding of AI's role in business and gender equality, including groundbreaking research on women entrepreneurs and business feminism using AI tools. She's currently shaping the next generation of tech leaders at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, while also serving as President of the Gender Equality Committee at The National Council of Women Entrepreneurs, where she's helping strengthen women's presence in Mexico's social and business sectors.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Nayana Guerrero about:
✨ Diverse AI Leadership: Building better AI requires diverse perspectives at every level of development and implementation.
✨ Cultural Intelligence: Understanding cultural nuances is crucial for creating AI solutions that truly serve global markets.
✨ Educational Pipeline: Strengthening STEM education and mentorship for Latina students is key to future AI innovation.
Learn more about Dr. Nayana Guerrero
- Connect with Nayana Guerrero on LinkedIn
Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode
- NayanaGuerrero.com
- Tec de Monterrey
- Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines by Joy Buolamwini
- She Means Business: How Women Are Revolutionizing AI in Marketing with Kinsey Soderberg
- Miri Rodriguez
- Empressa
- Latinas in Tech
- AI Primer: A Comprehensive Guide
- Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Full Transcript
(lightly edited)
Why Latina Voices Are Critical for the Future of AI with Dr. Nayana Guerrero
[00:00:00] Nayana Guerrero: If you're an organization and you want to elevate the voices of Latinas in AI development and in implementation, you have to promote a digital inclusion and access to technology. And we were talking about who has access to the technology. So to be, to offer training programs and, and resources to facilitate the access to those, uh, equipments and connectivity for Latinas, no?
[00:00:28] Also to promote the STEM education. It is crucial to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So for that, we have to author and sponsor educational program and scholarship, uh, targeting Latinas to pursue those career.
[00:00:53] And it is also very important to eliminate those gender biases in AI and recognize that the AI biases exist and what can we do to eliminate those gender biases?
[00:01:07] Doing those audits and correct the biases and ensuring that AI solutions are fair and impartial and including more women, uh, and more Latinas into these technical aspects.
[00:01:22] Mike Allton: Mike's got The Hat, the AI kind. Unlocking power in business, you'll find. Cut through the hype, explore the tech. Every week, new ideas to check.
[00:01:56] Allton leads us on a digital quest. AI secrets, he'll always invest. Tune in tight, don't miss a beat. Knowledge, groove, keep you on your feet. Listen up! To the AI flow. Business growth, here we go. Cuttin' edge insights, that's the plan. With The AI Hat, you'll understand.
[00:02:31] Greetings program. Welcome back to The AI Hat Podcast, where I selfishly use this time to pick the brains of experts at harnessing the power of AI across all areas of business. From streamlining operations and boosting productivity to gaining a competitive edge and driving explosive growth. Oh. You get to learn too, subscribe to be shown how to prepare yourself and your brand for this AI revolution and come out ahead.
[00:02:54] Now have you ever wondered why some of the most innovative AI solutions still miss the mark for large segments of the population? The answer might lie in who's actually building implementing these technologies. Today we're diving into a crucial conversation about representation in ai, specifically why having Latina voices at the table isn't just about diversity metrics, it's about creating better, more effective AI solutions for everyone.
[00:03:19] The truth is AI is reshaping every aspect of our world from how businesses operate to how we solve complex social problems. But here's the challenge. When the teams developing these technologies don't reflect the diversity of our society, we end up with blind spots that can limit AI's potential.
[00:03:36] And even perpetuate existing inequalities, and that's why I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Nayana Guerrero, a pioneering researcher and educator who's not only studying these issues but actively working to change them. Dr. Guerrero has made remarkable contributions to our understanding of AI's role in business and gender equality, including groundbreaking research on women entrepreneurs and business feminism.
[00:03:59] Using AI tools, she's currently shaping the next generation of tech leaders at the Technological De Monterey, while also serving as president of the Gender Equality Committee at the National Council of Women Entrepreneurs, where she's helping strengthen women's presence in Mexico's social and business sectors.
[00:04:15] Hey, Nayana, welcome to the show.
[00:04:18] Nayana Guerrero: Hi Mike. I'm so happy to be here. Hi. I'm from Mexico City, so, and hi, everyone over there that are listening to this amazing podcast. So thank you Mike for having me here.
[00:04:27] Mike Allton: Thank you. Absolutely. I'm so excited to dive into this with you. I know your doctoral research focused on using AI to study women entrepreneurs.
[00:04:36] What were some of the surprising insights that you uncovered about ai? How AI can either perpetuate or potentially break down gender barriers?
[00:04:46] Nayana Guerrero: That's a great question Mike. And well, AI can reproduce gender biases present in society. For example, it is very well known that Amazon had the shut down an AI based recruiting tool because it unintentionally discriminated against women.
[00:05:07] The algorithm was trained on historical resume data where men predominated in the technical positions. We know that this is this is happening and leading it to automatically screen out women. So this type of behavior is known as gender bias in ai. So, this is one of the key findings what we can identify about the lack of Latinas in ai.
[00:05:36] But also the gender stereotypes and career choice. We know that gender stereotypes, they influence women's career choices. So, and when we are talking about Latinas, we know that family is it has a huge impact on women's personal and professional choices.
[00:05:57] And also the third aspect that I will like to share, it's about the digital inclusion and the empowerment. To reduce the digital gender gap, it is necessary to foster capabilities and skills in the use of technology in general, not only ai, to boost technological prowess and to promote women's economic empowerment and even, it is even more important nowadays that AI is grounded and it's present in every single activity that we do daily. In general, this is that I would like to share about the different findings.
[00:06:39] Mike Allton: Yeah, it's huge. It's impacting every aspect of life and it's important that we understand the impact, how these models were trained and how perceptions of different segments of society are having that impact it.
[00:06:52] So I'm wondering, how does your Latina heritage influence your perspective on AI development and implementation?
[00:07:00] Nayana Guerrero: Before going to that question, I would like to sh to share because I, so I finished my, my, I defend my, my, my thesis in 2022. So since then okay, even if it was three, three years ago a lot of things have changed and a very, a kind of recent 2023 report by Pew Research Center, found that Latinas are pursuing STEM degrees at the higher rates than ever before.
[00:07:30] But even if there are more Latinas pursuing STEM degrees they still face barrier in entering and advancing in AI careers. Because sometimes we think you have, sometimes we talk about you have to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but it is like, okay, now I have the degree, and then what?
[00:07:53] Now how can I. Find that job in that. No, it's a, it's another issue. So I think that this is also important too. To share and absolutely. Sorry. Yeah.
[00:08:04] Mike Allton: No, please continue.
[00:08:06] Nayana Guerrero: And the, this is something that I wanted to share and also about your question about how my Latina heritage influence this perspective.
[00:08:13] So I think it is very important to underline the, the importance to understand the cu the impact of the culture. And specifically we have to emphasize how the Latina heritage influences the AI development and the implementation in ways that in emphasize inclusivity, community and cultural awareness because for the Latina culture the values of family and community are crucial. It's like the roots and AI should must reflect that cultural aspect of the Latinas in how AI is built. For example, I think about how AI can address the unique challenges that faced by a Latina community, such as you can see in my case. English is third language. So such as language barriers.
[00:09:13] And this has also impacts on the healthcare access and also educational disparities because we know that AI is created and in English. And even though if if there is a growing, in, in the US for ex for instance, even if there is a growing Latino community la Latina population. So this is one of the aspects that we have to, to AI should focus on inclusivity also on the cultural awareness in the design, as I was mentioning.
[00:09:46] Culture matters. So as you can say, I will mention a lot the aspect of culture. So AI systems, they need to understand and respect the cultural nuances to be effective. And well, we can talk, also talk about them. As I was mentioning the importance also that to include, to be diverse, to celebrate this diversity.
[00:10:13] I will always talk about the how rich is to have a diversity team, a diversity way of thinking, even. So my heritage Latina heritage reminds me the importance of this representation and also seeing more Latinas in AI and in tech leadership also inspire me, not doesn't inspire me, but also inspire other Latinas for to go further, to push for greater diversity in the tech field.
[00:10:43] So I think those aspects are very important.
[00:10:47] Mike Allton: Well, I couldn't agree more, and I appreciate you coming on here and sharing those insights because obviously, my background is limited. I don't have that exposure to all these other diverse cultures. I'm married into a Chinese family, so I'm far more aware of Asian cultures than other folks.
[00:11:05] We can only live in one culture at a time. So I appreciate you coming after those. That's fascinating.
[00:11:09] Nayana Guerrero: That's fascinating. Mike. Also also like this, if you are married to this, to Chinese culture, so as you, I don't know, have you seen like those cultural aspects how can you see those cultural aspects that impact in, in, in the marketing field?
[00:11:25] For instance, in your case, do you see something like some differences of.
[00:11:30] Mike Allton: I, I see them more broadly in terms of perspectives of business and lifestyle and communication. My in-laws actually live with me. So we've had, very intimate familiarity with Chinese culture and, their perceptions and family, their perceptions of business, what's right and wrong, how to communicate.
[00:11:48] It's very different from myself, my own upbringing and of course other cultures. Yeah. So not so much marketing specifically, but definitely, challenges and differences when it comes to entrepreneurship. And we actually had in our previous episode Kinsey Soderberg talking about women in AI and women entrepreneurs who are struggling with AI or succeeding with ai, but having those different perceptions of ai. I'm wondering what specific challenges do Latina entrepreneurs specifically face when trying to adapt or implement AI Solutions.
[00:12:23] Nayana Guerrero: Ai. Okay, so, when we talk about the challenges, we can talk about we have to talk about the gender digital divide and the gender digital divide impacts the three aspects: the access to tech, the use, how we use tech, and the creation of technology.
[00:12:43] Because first of all, we are talking about the access. Who can have access to AI, for instance. No, and let's be honest, there are tons of apps over there in the market, but in some, in most of them, of course, it's a business and you have to pay for those apps.
[00:13:02] So okay, I can pay for, I this app, Grammarly, for instance, but also I have to pay for this other app and then for this other app and then for this other app. And then you, like you some, everything. It's a, it's something, who can pay for that. To be honest, in, in Latin American cultures, or, I mean it's paying in dollars X amount of dollars.
[00:13:28] It's something it has an impact. So who can have access to the, to ai, for instance, to those apps, do AI apps or whatever, people who can pay. Yeah. So who has access to that? So this is the one of the aspect.
[00:13:43] Also another challenge. We, let's talk about the use. How do we use, what use do we make of those of ai? Are we using ai to edit videos? Are you using AI for more ludic use, like gaming and things like that? Are we using AI to improve writing? Are we using ai? What use are we, or are we using AI for Yeah, create content or to code? So the use that we. Two of of the technology is different also between men and women, and also between Latinas and other people.
[00:14:22] And also, and very important the creation. So who is. Like who, who are the people that are creating all the, those AI tools or the the AI new world? Let's talk about that. We saw that, and they even have a name it, they Tech Bro's, you know the Bro's? Yep. Bro's.
[00:14:43] So it's complicated to see a woman over there and then a Latina, it's even more complicated because we are facing, we face more barriers that let's say white women will face. So it's not like it's just a different aspect, it's just a fact that we face more challenges as we were talking. So this is one of the aspects of the gender digital divide that we have to consider the access, the use and the creation of technology among other challenges.
[00:15:16] Yeah. In a nutshell, we have to take a look and to consider this gender digital divide.
[00:15:22] Mike Allton: Yeah, this was exactly the conversation that Kinsey and I had. She cited a couple studies. She said that according to a study, 80% of the AI leaders were men. And she cited that women are two times less likely to use an AI tool or solution, one of the top 50 AI tools.
[00:15:42] And we talked this through and it felt like the biggest reason you, you said one huge reason, access a hundred percent. If you're not from an affluent culture of society, it's gonna be a little bit harder for you to pay for those kinds of tools. The second issue that we talked through, and I'm wondering your take on this, was that in her experience and mine as well, I women seem more likely to feel like ai, the use of AI is cheating, that it's somehow cutting corners, and therefore they're less willing to use that tool and have that perception, and then they're less likely to take advantage of the fact that AI is gonna make them 40% more productive. So you've got twice as many men using tools that make them 40% more productive, thereby even more dramatically increasing that gender divide.
[00:16:30] Has that been your experience with Latina women in particular?
[00:16:35] Nayana Guerrero: So here we talk about something that is like rooted in and this is what the gender theory talks about. How, first in general as women, we think that no, think tech is not for me. It's like, it's not. I'm not, no, I'm not into tech.
[00:16:53] Ah, I'm the worst using tech. No. This is not for me. Too complicated. But it's like, no, it is something that sometimes be so, okay. So everything is related. If since we were born we like culture those aspects of the culture says that, okay, if there is, it's, if it's a girl, we are gonna, we're gonna give you, we are gonna give the baby girl like something that is very stereotype, like, I don't know, I don't know a kitchen or something. Something that will use another, other skills. And if it's a, if it's a boy, we are gonna give you like those two who get this like a Lego or something like that. No. A Lego to build, to develop.
[00:17:35] To build, yeah, to build. So, the toys, so since if you, since you are a kid, you have like, you will develop different skills. And it is not like in general, in society, we need the different skills, but this in the future will have an impact in your decisions or in how you face different challenges.
[00:17:57] Because if you develop these very like skill to build things like very fast since you were a kid and then you are a teenager or whatever, you know how that in your roots, you will develop the skills that you already develop when developed it when you were a kid.
[00:18:16] So a, I lost that question.
[00:18:20] Mike Allton: What was your
[00:18:21] Nayana Guerrero: question? I started that. No, that's okay.
[00:18:23] Mike Allton: No, 'cause it's fascinating. You're absolutely right. So there's cultural differences, there are ways that we perceive genders in society and just, I was just curious if you'd seen the same issue with Latina women in particular that they are.
[00:18:35] Adverse to using AI because they feel like it's cheating. And it sounds like that's a perception that crosses all cultures.
[00:18:41] Nayana Guerrero: Yeah. It's, it is just like, yeah, there is the d again, we are talking about the use, no, the use. How do we use ai And also, there is a different differentiated use of technology and not only between men and women, but between, cultures. In Latin America, for instance, we we use a lot social media, but as users, not as creators for instance so we are consumers. And so the use is very different. Also the apps women use are more likely to be related with society and with beauty and care for wellness.
[00:19:27] And men usually are in a higher level use. For instance, apps or things related to finance related to gaming. So there is a differentiated use of of technology. And as Latinas, of course, there is a, there is and even more an differentiated use of of tech. So it's, and also something very important to, to have, to have, to be able to conduct research on that. We have to have disaggregated data. We have to be able to, you have to be able to go deep into downloading, for instance, not the reports of okay. Who are using, no. And then, okay where are they from? And are they women or men?
[00:20:20] Where do they live? Are they Latinas or non Latinas? But we have to have the data disaggregated to be able to conduct research on that. And this is something like also very important when we talk about Latinas. This is because not all women we are the same. Not all men are the same, yeah.
[00:20:39] But in Latinas, this is why it is very important to have this desegregated data, eh? Like in the specific, not only men and women, but also wait, okay, we are talking about women. Okay. Latinas, Asian, white da. Because if we don't disaggregate data in that level, how are we going to know, for instance, the question that you just asked.
[00:21:05] So we have to go like very deep into the data, in the, into the data to be able to respond. That kind of questions, for instance.
[00:21:15] Mike Allton: Yeah, no, absolutely. We're making the argument here that with more diverse representation, these AI applications would be better. Can you share some examples of how they might have been better designed if they'd had more diverse input during development?
[00:21:33] Nayana Guerrero: Yes. For instance let's talk about, the importance of having diverse against diverse data sets for facial recognitions? No. That will make the world like equally well for all the different skill skins. Eh, Joy Buolamwini. I hope that I'm a, I pronounce it well. She has the whole book in, in, in that regard.
[00:21:59] Also voice assistance. No, it's important. In my case, for instance, my English is like from everywhere because, because I was born in Paris and then I lived in, I have lived in five different. Cities and I studied in the French school, so I learned English in French, but I'm Mexican and French. It's a crazy accent.
[00:22:21] So, but including more accents and dialects. Also help to understand everyone better in, in the Spanish also. Spanish is not the same. The Spanish the Spanglish that that is. That we talk sometimes between the Hispanic people in the us like they, they speak Spanish, like the mix between Spanish and English.
[00:22:46] But it's not the same as the Spanish that is that the Spanish of Spain or the Spanish of Mexico. We have like different di different ways to express ourselves. So I think that this is also very rich. And then it is very about the culture, about the roots of the culture. Because the way we talk and the way we express ourselves, like as a culture or as a society in general, is also the way we see the world.
[00:23:15] So, all those aspects of of the language, it's important to re to be that they are reflected in, in, in AI, in the technology. Because otherwise this is why when we read a text, we can see, oh, this was reading with by ai because it, it lacks this digital thing that is part.
[00:23:36] That makes it that, oh, okay, I know that it was a Mexican people that wrote that. What is talking about it? Because this is what, this, that makes unique and that makes us human and in the end also it's important that, so yeah, I can, yeah, that, just say those two examples.
[00:23:56] Mike Allton: Yeah, no, that's absolutely right.
[00:23:58] Like I mentioned, my wife's from Hong Kong. She was born there. She moved to the United States when she was four or five years old, so she grew up here, but English was technically her second language, and when Alexa first came out, it did not understand her. At all. She was constantly fighting with it.
[00:24:15] And it's not like she's got this thick Chinese accent. She does not, but it's different enough, right? When she's speaking in English, that and just the way that she pronounces certain words or whatever the nuance there is different enough that early Alexis, really struggled with her. That's improved over time, but to your point, it wasn't, it didn't come out of the box.
[00:24:33] Understanding other kinds of cultures, well, other dialects and that sort of thing. But I love that you mentioned growing up. And going to school in Paris. What's the role then that you think educational institutions play in preparing, let's say the next generation of Latina tech leaders?
[00:24:52] Nayana Guerrero: I deeply believe in education and how education can of course open you to a whole new world.
[00:25:01] Educational institutes, they play a huge role in preparing the next generations of Latinas and tech leaders and for example, access to a STEM education. It is very important that to have access to the science, tech and engineering and math education. There, there is a research that on the line, it is at 11, 13 years old when a girl decide not to pursue a career in tech.
[00:25:33] So 13. It is it's a, it's an when you're at 13 years old it's a crucial age to consider. Okay. Why women decide not to pursue STEM education. No. So, to have access to education in early stages, it's extremely important. Also, and when we talk about STEM education, we also talk about the scholarship and financial support.
[00:26:00] It's important to have access to scholarships for Latinas students. Also because we know that a Latinas in the US it's a minority and the college in the US is extremely expensive. So to have access to also to paid internships and to participate in the different boot camps that companies can offer, it's also important.
[00:26:28] And I something that is this we have also to under to underline is the mentorship at their role models. Oh yeah. When you see someone like expressing, Hey, I did this, and this means that you can do that too. I think it's, it's just like, it's just like it with you, Mike.
[00:26:50] I see. Let's, I see how you have like. Five different podcasts and you have like, it's like, how do you do that? I mean it's like, it's inspiring. You inspire me through your podcast right now to like, just like listening that you have five different podcasts and you do that in a very ultra professional way, and you have like, you are doing like by yourself.
[00:27:14] It's like, ah. Let me tell you, Mike, you inspire me. So it's just like, the same with with mentorship and role models for Latinas. It's just like me. Come on right now, like I'm, I am, I'm doing this podcast and I'm very grateful with you, Mike, even though if English is my third language, my first language is Spanish, then French, and then English, but it's like, i'm not gonna, this is not an English exam. This is not an English course. This is I, for me, the imp I have a voice and not the be the language barrier will not stop me. Of I need like, okay, I'm gonna do my best to try to express my ideas in a language that is my third language. And it's and if there is another Latina over there, another, no English native speaking speaker that is listening to this podcast, it's like, if I could do that, you can do that.
[00:28:20] You have a voice, use it, and don't be afraid if some people don't like my accent, it is their problem, not mine. No. So it's, I think that this is very important to, to, to. To use your voice and to and yeah, and to dare to express yourself and to advocate for diversity and to reach, to re, to research and reach out to opportunities.
[00:28:45] Also, this is very important because I encourage Latinas to get involved in AI and tech in different aspects. There are tons of opportunities over there. It's not like they are not going to knock at the door. It's. Like you have to Google and look for like a, if you want to go into a group of Latinas, for instance, I am in Mexico right now.
[00:29:08] I used to live in Washington, DC but since I, I am now in Mexico City, I was looking for a group of Latinas in ai and I couldn't find the Latinas in AI in Mexicos. So there is one, but there is another one in Colombia that there are like a lot of Latinas out there, like sharing a lot of things and even doing webinars.
[00:29:29] And so I ask them, I text them, I send a WhatsApp, because in Latin America, WhatsApp is like for everything. Yep. So I send a WhatsApp, Hey, can I get it? Can I get into this WhatsApp group, even though if I'm Mexican and I'm Yes, sure, come and not like we live in such an interconnected world that you have to look for opportunities and also very important to celebrate success.
[00:29:53] It's sell and. You have to share also what you did it or what you have done. Because if you don't share it because something, this is something also very Latina that no. You have something, ah, it's great, but you have to lower your voice and it's don't be, don't brag about your work.
[00:30:14] No. Share it because if you don't share your suc, your achievements, nobody will know that they exist. That you are, you achieved this or that. So also this is important like to share about. Yeah. So if we can see like, about your question. So, eh, educational institute, they can help Latinas in different, in those different ways.
[00:30:41] Mike Allton: Folks, go back and listen to the entire segment again. Nayana was helping us and inspiring us in so many ways. Folks are talking with Dr. Nayana Guerrero about the challenges that Latino entrepreneurs face and their opportunities with ai, and I've got several more questions you aren't going to want to miss, but first, a quick word from our sponsor.
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[00:31:57] So, Nayana, let's just suppose for a moment that you could talk directly to Open Ai, Google Anthropic. 'cause of course they're all listening to this podcast. How can they ensure that they're creating truly inclusive AI solutions that serve all kinds of diverse populations, including yours?
[00:32:14] Nayana Guerrero: If you're an organization and you want to elevate the voices of Latinas in AI development and in implementation, you have to promote the digital inclusion and access to technology. And I. We were talking about who has access to the technology, so to be, to offer training programs and resources to facilitate the access to those equipments and connectivity for Latinas, no.
[00:32:42] Also, to promote the STEM education, it is crucial to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So for that, we have to offer and sponsor educational program and scholarship targeting Latinas to pursue those career.
[00:33:07] And it is also very important to eliminate those gender biases in AI and recognize that the ai biases exist and how can we, what can we do to eliminate those gender biases? Doing those audits and correct the biases and ensuring that AI solutions are fair, and impartial, and including more women and more Latinas in to this technical aspects. So, as you can see. Like a little a circle. And also to create and support mentorship networks to have funding for those mentorship networks and establishing the mentorship programs and support networks for Latinas in the AI field.
[00:33:58] It is super, super, super important because as Latinas, as we were talking, the community, it is very important. So in the end mentoring networks and those programs are communities. So in also in the latinas com culture. It is even more important, so it has a more impact even it has an even more impact in, in, in Latinas.
[00:34:26] And of course to promote female leadership to promote the participation of women in decision making positions. And encourage also, not only encourage the female leadership. But also to give them the, all the ground that they feel to be able to, for women, for Latinas to be able to be in those positions.
[00:34:52] Because if you are in a leadership position and you have a kid some has to take care of this kid. No. So as an organization, what are you giving to this Latina in a leadership position? For her to be able to have the other aspects of her life, like align and balance. So yeah, in, in, in general, let's say those aspects.
[00:35:19] We can say, we can talk about hours at that, but.
[00:35:23] Mike Allton: Well, they're so important. I love these points that you're making about the value of mentorship and community. My dear friend Miri Rodriguez, who works for Microsoft, she started a whole AI community, Empressa. She's doing tremendous work there.
[00:35:36] So shout out to Miri, but what are some of the other exciting opportunities that you see specifically for Latina leaders in the AI space?
[00:35:44] Nayana Guerrero: Well in the AI space also, it's important to to know that you don't have to be in the very technical aspects of artificial intelligence. If you want to be in, in this world, in the AI space you can, AI needs different, profiles of course what the AI needs people that are interested into the technical aspect. But nowadays, you can use artificial intelligence for everything. AI for everything. If you like to create music. Yeah. There is, there are opportunities out there. If you want to do international partnerships, okay.
[00:36:31] For as a Latina league there, you can foster collaborations within AI communities in the us, in Latin America, in different worlds. As I was mentioning. I am connected with people in, well with people, even though, even in, in, in Sri Lanka, so it's like in Sri Lanka, Ghana. Colombia. So also and and I think there is a growing opportunities for Latin entrepreneurs to create AI startups specifically focused on solving problems that are relevant to Latina communities.
[00:37:04] There is a lot of opportunities for ai, for social good to leverage and address those social issues such as I was mentioning at the beginning, the healthcare disparities, also education aspects access and the economic equality. So there is, there, there are so many problems in the that we can we can address and we need the leadership and representation of Latinas in the AI space for sure. So opportunities are tones.
[00:37:39] Mike Allton: Yeah. It's funny 'cause when people ask me, what do I think about AI beyond just, pure helping me every day with business stuff.
[00:37:45] This is what makes me most excited is the big problems and even the little problems. Culturally, worldwide societies, whatever, that AI is gonna help us solve. All of a sudden, abundant, virtually free energy, completely unlimited supplies of clean drinking water to anyone around the world that needs those things.
[00:38:06] Talk about being able to suddenly elevate, cultures and societies that were, previously considered third world and so on, because now you know, they're not suffering from a lack of those things that we take for granted here in, in many other societies. So I appreciate you bringing up that point.
[00:38:23] Nayana Guerrero: And also Mike, in your case, for instance, you're helping businesses and people to use marketing in this AI world. Like it's also a huge problem because to be honest, if you don't have a presence in on online presence, or if you have it and you don't know how to communicate your digital profile.
[00:38:50] Nowadays you have to have a present, an online presence, a digital presence, and even more if you're a brand. Or what do you think, Mike? This is also a huge and as, it's not a problem, but it's a situation that we all face. What do you think about?
[00:39:07] Mike Allton: Yeah, and in fact, even more fundamental than that, one of the things I talk about often is that we're in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, and when people started to talk about ai, I saw a lot of people saying things like, oh, AI is not gonna replace you, and so on and so forth.
[00:39:24] And that reflects a lack of understanding of history. I went to school for history, so I understand history. I understand that perspective. Love it. Studied the first three industrial revolutions, and the fact is people lost their jobs. When we came out as a society and we invented electricity, or we discovered electricity, depending on your point of view, we no longer needed things like gas lamps along the city streets, which meant in an entire generation of gas lamp lighting people who would have to walk onto the streets with a long pole and light the gas lamps every night.
[00:39:58] They lost their jobs. When we invented the automobile, people stopped riding horses into town, which completely limited the need for stables and stable workers in those towns. People are going to lose their jobs today. They're already losing their jobs. For folks who aren't paying attention, the World Economic Forum said that within the next five years, 92 million jobs will be lost or displaced due to ai. Now there'll be 170 million new jobs created as a result of ai, which is a net gain of 70 plus million jobs. In theory, still millions of people are going to have to upskill or completely find new careers and new forms of work. Due to this AI revolution, and that's important.
[00:40:46] And yeah, so it's critical that people like you and I are helping other folks understand that this isn't just a marketing tool. This isn't just a tool to help you, study some data and analytics in your business. This is changing the very fabric of our society. Yeah.
[00:41:02] Thank you for bringing that up. I know this has been really fantastic. I've got just one more question for you. You've already leveled so much terrific advice to folks that are listening, but I wonder if you could talk to the young Latinas for just a moment, folks who want to pursue careers in AI in tech leadership, what advice would you give them specifically?
[00:41:23] Nayana Guerrero: Well, we already mentioned the need, and then thanks for bringing that to the table, we have to upskill. The tech world needs your talent, your creativity, and your unique perspective. But if you don't know what is your unique perspective and what you. But yeah what makes you what is your talent?
[00:41:46] How the world will know that. So I think it is, I deeply important. It very important for you as a Latina to stay curious, to work on yourself to now. I love Notebook Lm because you can add like a lot of links and I have done that. That, that the exercise, you know that I have this podcast and I am like, I have this very open digital profile, so I took like all the links of my work and even I added my doctoral like master's thesis and I added like 15 sources, and then you can even create a podcast about all the information that you have. And it is like, also, this is interesting, like how another way to use AI is to like, to get to know you better or to at least to see what happens if you add like different sources of in my case it was my doctor at thesis and et cetera and other interviews and et cetera. And then to see what's the outcome? What the results that the, in this case, Notebook LM is showing about yourself. There is a whole area about that is called AI coaching. It is deeply interesting, but for Latinas, so stay curious dive into STEM early.
[00:43:05] Stay curious, ask questions. Nowadays, it is extremely important to know how to ask questions, and don't be afraid to experiment. Also. How do you, how you, how will you know what you like if you don't try? The only way to know what you like and you don't like is to try, so try. Don't be afraid to experiment.
[00:43:30] Ai, it's all about solving problems and curiosity is your superpower. Also build your skills. There are tons of free courses over there. You can go to Coursera, to, you can go just Google whatever course you want to. Due to free course about how to use AI for editing a video freaker. So you will find, and if you don't find that, you can find WhatsApp groups.
[00:44:00] You can find the communities online in LinkedIn. You can find there's, there are tons of things over there. And also if there is someone that you say, I, this person really inspire me. Send her a message. Find mentors and role models. Seek out Latinas, leaders in tech and join organizations. There are tons of organizations over there.
[00:44:22] We all know, like Latinas in Tech. There is another is called and remember that you don't have to go into this AI world by yourself. It is better to have a support system and networking is also very important. But most of all, embrace who you are. Embrace that how you are unique and this unique perspective, it is your strength. Nobody is like. Just, it's just like you, we all are unique in this world, so don't try to fit into a mold express yourself and elevate your voice. So I think it's, we can I mean I could give like tons of other advices, but, but remember to share your story because you never know how one sentence that you share of your life could inspire someone else to rewrite their own life story.
[00:45:29] So the tech world is waiting for you. So, yes, that's it. That's not me. We.
[00:45:38] Mike Allton: Wow, Nayana. You have been an absolute delight to talk to and such a profound message. Thank you so much. I know folks are gonna want to connect with you and reach out to you to potentially mentor them or help them find community. Where can they go to connect and learn more from you?
[00:45:55] Nayana Guerrero: Well, thank first of all Mike, thank you very much for this opportunity to be hearing your, in your podcast. I really, I love your podcast. I listen to this when I'm driving in Mexico City. We drive a lot, so if you want to reach out to me so you can Google my name I, it's Nayana Guerrero and I have. My website, nayana guerrero.com.
[00:46:15] You can reach out to me through LinkedIn, through Instagram. You can send an email to me. Everything is like Nayana Guerrero in Instagram. I'm as Nayana Guerrero, PhD in LinkedIn is Nayana Guerrero PhD. My website you will find you want to know my life, but like just Google my name Nayana Guerrero and this is what it is. What you see here and you see there.
[00:46:35] This is who I am. So I would love to connect with anyone over there and such. I love to be a connector too. So yeah, please feel free to reach out to me and thank you, Mike. Thank you for creating this space that is very important nowadays.
[00:46:52] Mike Allton: You're so welcome. Thank you for coming. Thank you, all of you for listening.
[00:46:55] As always. Of course, we will have all of Nayana's incredible links in the show notes below. But remember, if this is your first foray into the world of AI and business, I've got the perfect resource for you in the show notes below the AI primer designed to quickly get you up to speed on the terms, the techniques in the technology that is powering this AI revolution.
[00:47:14] Check it out and I'll see you in our next episode. Welcome to the grid.
[00:47:18] That's a wrap on another episode of The AI Hat Podcast. I hope you've gained some valuable insights and actionable strategies to boost your business with ai. If you enjoyed this show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network. And don't forget to visit the ai hat.com for more resources and to connect with me.
[00:47:37] Until next time, keep innovating and remember, the future of business is human and it's powered by Ai.
