EXPlore: Pittsburgh Tech Week kicks off with diversity in AI discussion
People of color make up about 37% of the tech industry, while white people account for a little over 60%, according to a 2023 Techreport ,
Intersectionality of AI & Inclusion was the topic of discussion on the opening day of the EXPlore: Pittsburgh Tech Week on Monday at Google's Bakery Square offices.
Kenya Sheppard Porter, program manager at Google, asked the audience to raise their hands if they had ever been inside the building. For many, it was their first time.
"Being here to have an important conversation that needed to be had in a diverse audience, representation matters," Porter said. "When I look out into this space, these are not the same types of faces that I see on a day-to-day basis. I want to ensure that our building is accessible for all. Breaking down those intimidation factors of technology is the biggest thing we can all do for one another. I'm a Black girl in tech."
The panel discussion was moderated by Winton Steward, Google's government affairs and public policy lead. Panelists included Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, venture capitalist and board member David Motely, Duolingo head of social impact Kendra Ross, Amazon vice president of ops tech solutions Mamar Gelaye and Google civil rights lead Chanelle Hardy.
Gainey said being a tech city for everybody requires inviting the community in. Pittsburgh, for example, is using AI to create more language and accessibility options for people with disabilities.
"So many people from here left here. We can make this a city for all, access to opportunities removes all barriers," Gainey said of what Pittsburgh could look like in 15 years with the increase in opportunities in the tech industry.
"It's an understanding of what diversity truly means. What I loved about today's opening sessions is that everyone talked about ensuring that young people have access to this knowledge," said Tanika Harris, director at Catapult Greater Pittsburgh and business owner.
Harris said as a nonprofit, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh connects with many entrepreneurs and utilizes Grow with Google for entrepreneurs. "They are able to learn how to utilize AI, build websites, create prompts," she said.
Harris also spoke of belonging.
"Diversity is one thing, but having individuals who are typically underserved in spaces where they are not welcome is an issue," she said.
EXPlore: Pittsburgh Tech Week is presented by Google and Citizens Bank and produced by Fantasy Zellars, who was behind the Juneteenth Fusion Fest and other events.
"Cultural legacy and innovation has to be intentional," said Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation. "When more of the world's citizens can relate to technology, it can solve more of the world's problems. But when all of the innovators and programmers lack diverse life experience, they are often focused on a narrow group."
Gainey said the challenge has always been for people to see their cultures represented inside Pittsburgh.
"Pittsburgh is a tech city. Technology gives us the opportunity to reverse that discrimination that has been here for decades, as long as we invest in the children. The more we improve our culture, the more we improve business opportunities, the better city we'll have. People will want to stay and innovate here because they see representation in the in the city," he said.
When it comes to diversity, Allyce Pinchback-Johnson, founder of Pinchback Consulting LLC, said the youth are very important.
"Black students in particular get left behind when it comes to things like technology, and I just want to make sure that they have access to AI as well," Pinchback-Johnson said.
