Dr. Maria Luce Lupetti interview: Women in AI - Insights

Dr. Maria Luce Lupetti is co-editor of Designing Interactions with Robots and Assistant Professor in Design at Politecnico di Torino.

Robots and AI are uniquely placed in a space in between what's human and what's artificial...

In this interview for our inspiring women in AI series, she discusses her new project on ethical AI transitions, emphasizing the importance of inclusive AI processes and informed public decisions.

She also highlights the need for diverse perspectives in AI to address social injustices and environmental impacts and tells us what inspired her to work in the field.

"This is a field that truly needs the contribution of different expertise and cultural backgrounds"

What AI-related projects are you currently working on?

I was just granted consistent research funding to work for three years on the topic of "Participatory Design Justice for Ethical AI Transitions."

Through this, I'll build a team that will study how to:

Design participatory AI processes that are truly inclusive and representative of diverse communities
Enable the public to express informed decisions about AI even without having technical knowledge about it

This is a project that builds on previous research projects I worked on in the Netherlands, in collaboration with colleagues from several universities. In the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Embodied AI (DEI4EAI) project, for instance, we aimed to encourage debate around topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the design of embodied AI.

What inspired you to pursue a career in AI and related fields?

I ended up working in the field of AI after a long research journey in the space of human-robot interactions, which happened by chance.

Many principles and dynamics are shared between the two fields, and what fascinated me from the start is the way robots and AI are uniquely placed in a space in between what's human and what's artificial, between what a machine does and the highly anthropomorphic way it's perceived.

What potential risks or downsides of AI development concern you?

The AI industry carries risks on so many levels that it is hard to list all of them.

I am very concerned about the way AI exacerbates issues of social injustice we already have in society, such as uneven distribution of welfare and resources, discriminatory decision-making, and more.

Further, I think we are overlooking how dramatic the impact of the AI industry is on the environment, and we need to take urgent action on that front.

What initiatives or changes would you like to see to encourage more women to enter the field of AI?

We need more initiatives that showcase the multiple ways there are to play a role in the field of AI, not just technical ones.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in AI?

I would encourage all women from any disciplinary background to speak and share their views on AI.

This is a field that truly needs the contribution of different expertise and cultural backgrounds if we are to achieve AI systems that are beneficial to society.