Dr. Rao participated in the panel discussion titled “Data, People, and Pre-Empting Mass Exclusion: Building Ethical AI as Digital Public Infrastructure.” The session was co-organized by Globethics and AI Safety Connect in collaboration with the Women for Ethical AI South Asia Chapter, bringing together global experts to explore the risks of algorithmic exclusion and pathways toward responsible AI systems.
The panel examined how algorithm-driven technologies, when poorly designed or insufficiently governed, can unintentionally exclude vulnerable communities from essential services such as welfare, healthcare, education, finance, and governance. Speakers emphasized the importance of building AI systems that are accountable, transparent, and rooted in community needs.
During her remarks, Dr. Rao highlighted that the origins of AI bias ultimately stem from human bias, stressing that ethical frameworks and value-driven design must be embedded at the earliest stages of AI development. She called for interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger governance mechanisms to ensure that digital public infrastructure remains inclusive and equitable.
The summit also marked the official release of the Women for Ethical AI South Asia Impact & Activities Report 2025, which showcases the network’s growing regional efforts to advance gender-responsive and inclusive AI governance across South Asia.
The session reinforced a shared global commitment: as AI becomes central to public systems, ensuring fairness, accountability, and human-centred design is no longer optional — it is imperative.
