New international initiative aims to empower women and girls to shape the future of AI

What if more girls could see themselves as the future of artificial intelligence? A new international initiative led by Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff Met) in partnership with the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, aims to make that vision a reality.

Funded by the British Council’s Gender Equality Partnerships Grant, the HerHCAI (Human-Centred AI) project seeks to increase the participation of women and girls in artificial intelligence (AI), STEM, and digital technologies, while promoting the development of more inclusive and responsible AI systems.

Over the next 12 months, HerHCAI will deliver a range of activities across the UK and Nigeria, including:

• A five-week (10 hour) human-centred AI digital literacy programme supporting 50–200 unemployed women and girls
• A structured industry mentorship scheme led by senior women in AI and technology
• A series of seminars bringing together policymakers, educators, researchers and industry leaders
• An international conference focused on gender equality and inclusion in AI
• Reciprocal exchange visits between Cardiff Met and FUTA to strengthen international collaboration and knowledge sharing

The project responds to a growing global challenge. As AI continues to transform healthcare, education, employment and public services, women remain significantly underrepresented in the design, development, and governance of these technologies. This imbalance has raised concerns about gender bias in AI systems and the impact such bias can have on women and girls.

HerHCAI is founded on a clear principle: AI should work for everyone, and that begins with ensuring women are actively involved in shaping its future.

The initiative is led by Dr Omobolanle Omisade and Dr Fiona Carroll at Cardiff Met, alongside Professor Olutayo Kehinde Boyinbode of the Department of Computer Science at FUTA. The team jointly secured the funding award.

Dr Omobolanle Omisade, Principal Investigator for HerHCAI at Cardiff Met, said:

“AI is being trained on a world that already disadvantages women, and the result is a generation of tools that can misread us, misdiagnose us, and leave us out. HerHCAI exists because the solution is not only better technology, but greater participation.

“We need more women involved in how AI is designed, developed, taught, and governed. By bringing together education, mentorship, research, and policy engagement, we want to create opportunities for women and girls to become active contributors to the future of AI. We are starting in Cardiff and Akure, but our ambition is global.

“Together, we can help build a future where AI is shaped by diverse voices and works for everyone. “The project aligns with efforts in both the UK and Nigeria to build a more diverse digital workforce and address skills shortages in emerging technologies. It also contributes to global conversations around responsible innovation, inclusive technology and gender equality.

Get involved

HerHCAI is currently seeking participants, mentors, researchers, educators, industry partners, policymakers and organisations interested in contributing to the project.

Women and girls interested in joining the training programme, as well as individuals and organisations looking to support the initiative, are encouraged to get in touch via the website: Home - HCAI