How are women engineers impacted by artificial intelligence (AI), and is this important? More than ever, AI is an integral part of our daily lives. It is all around us. It impacts us, our family, friends, and communities. Although we may not be aware of the full extent of these impacts, the rapid development of AI solutions and technology can be challenging to track, understand, or adapt. For these reasons, SWE decided to develop a project to better understand how women in engineering are influenced by AI.
Some of the key components were to determine how women engineers engage with AI professionally and assess their sentiment toward this new technology. The project team sought to understand whether SWE members viewed AI as a positive opportunity, especially for women in engineering and those studying to become engineers. The goal of this initiative was to develop a better understanding of how SWE could participate in AI.
Defining the Problem
The FY25 Senate identified several SWE Senators to explore AI as a topic, which included Louvere Walker-Hannon, Monica Challenger, Vanessa Li-Davis, Nelia Mazula, Erin Sawyer, Carol Weber, and Board of Directors Advisor Dianne Beever. Together, they bring more than 25 years of industry experience related to AI, from a variety of sectors including aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, technology, and software.
Due to the broad scope of the project’s initial objectives, the first step was to develop a specific problem statement. Based on input from the wider SWE Senate and additional research, they aligned on the following question: How can SWE empower and leverage the knowledge from its membership to increase women’s participation in the field of AI?
Identifying the Goals
The goal of this initiative was to understand how AI impacts SWE members personally and professionally, assess their current knowledge, and explore ways to increase engagement with AI. To achieve this, a survey was planned to gather insights on AI awareness, usage, and interest in deeper involvement, such as interviews or showcasing AI knowledge at SWE events like WE Local conferences, the WE Annual Conference, or via the Advanced Learning Center or Diverse podcast.
As a first step, the subteam discussed how to prepare and structure the survey. A study by the Royal Academy of Engineering closely aligned with SWE’s goals. They met with the UK researchers, who granted permission to adapt survey content. Most questions were retained, with minor modifications made for SWE’s audience and demographics.
Conducting the Study
The subteam, working in conjunction with SWE HQ, established the infrastructure to conduct the surveys and interviews, ensuring data integrity and privacy. The study aimed to explore the implications of AI on both professional and personal lives of SWE members, its impact on engineering product development, and the concerns of SWE members regarding AI integration. The survey also assessed members’ proficiency in AI and their willingness to engage in discussions about it. The insights gathered help SWE better serve its members in their interactions with AI.
Analysis and Observations
The results originated from 225 survey respondents, out of whom 46 individuals expressed interest in participating in a follow-up survey. Several notable trends emerged from a combination of the survey and interview results:
- AI will not necessarily provide more opportunities for diversity or inclusivity in engineering or other fields.
- Jobs will both be made obsolete and created due to AI.
- There is minimal AI regulation worldwide; some regions may have more regulations than others.
- Concerns exist about ethics and bias with respect to AI.
- An assumption is made by some that the field of AI does not have a diverse group of individuals, which can lead to AI being built for a small population of individuals.
Recommendations for SWE
In addition to their observations, the subteam provided recommendations to help guide SWE’s plans in the future. These insights, gathered directly from member survey responses and interviews, were especially valuable given the rarity of AI-focused surveys within SWE. The key recommendations are outlined below:
- Provide educational opportunities to learn about AI for upskilling.
- Leverage SWE members’ AI expertise via workshops, podcasts, and the Advanced Learning Center.
- Form an AI Affinity Group or Working Group (several interviewees expressed interest in joining such a group).
- Create and share a repository of AI resources that SWE members can contribute to and benefit from.
- Explore the impacts of AI on the environment and various other resources.
This study offers valuable insights into the current state of SWE membership regarding experiences with and knowledge of AI. The collected data from this study can be used to build more community-based AI learning opportunities, understand how to support the SWE membership in its AI pathway going forward, and leverage the existing knowledge within SWE membership.
Stay tuned for future opportunities to get involved in AL-focused initiatives and discussions within SWE!
