Women in AI: Catherine Breslin helps companies develop AI strategies

HAS give AI-driven women academics And others their well-deserved — And late — time In THE projector, TechCrunch has has been editing a series of focused interviews on outstanding women who has contributed has THE AI revolution. Were editing these pieces all along THE year as THE AI boom keep on going, highlighting key work that often go unknown. Read more profiles here.

Catherine Breslin East THE founder And director of Kingfisher Laboratories, Or She help companies develop AI strategies. She has spent more that two decades as A AI scientist And has work For Cambridge University, Toshiba Research, And even Amazon Alexa. She was previously A advise has THE Capital risk funds Deep technology Laboratories And was THE Solutions Architect Director has Cobalt Speech & Language.

She assisted Oxford University For first cycle Before receive her mastery And PhD has THE University of Cambridge.

Briefly, how did You get your to start In AI? What attracted You has THE field?

I always love mathematics And physics has school And I selected has study engineering has university. It is Or I First of all learned about AI, However he was not called AI has THE time. I obtained plot by THE idea of using computers has TO DO THE speech And language treatment that We humans find easy. From there, I finished up to study For A PhD In voice technology And functioning as A searcher. Were has A indicate In time Or There is has been huge not Before For AI recently, And I feel as There is A huge opportunity has build technology that improved people lives.

What work are You most proud of In THE AI field?

In 2020, In THE early days of THE pandemic, I based My own consultant business with THE assignment has bring real world AI skill And direction has organizations. I am proud of THE work I have do with My clients through different And interesting projects And Also that I have has been able has TO DO This In A Really flexible path around My family.

How TO DO You navigate THE challenges of THE predominantly male technology industry And, by extension, THE predominantly male AI industry?

It is hard has measure Exactly, but something as 20% of THE AI field East women. My perception East Also that THE percentage gets lower as You get more senior. For Me, A of THE best manners has navigate This East by building A favorable network. Of course, support can come Since people of any of them gender. Sometimes, However, It is reassuring has talk has women WHO are focused towards similar situations Or who has seen THE even problems, And It is great not has feel alone.

THE other thing For Me East has think thoroughly about Or has spend My energy. I believe that GOOD only see sustainable change When more women get In senior And direction posts, And that won't arrive if women spend all their energy on fixation THE system instead that move forward their careers. There is A pragmatic balance has be had between push For change And to focus on My own every day work.

What advice would be You give has women while searching has enter THE AI field?

AI East A huge And exciting field with A plot while going on. There is Also A huge Rising of noise with What can seem as A constant flow of papers, some products, And models be released. It is impossible has keep up with All. Further away, not each paper Or research result East while going has be significant In THE long run, No matter how flashy THE press release. My advice East has find A niche that You are Really interested In manufacturing progress In, learn All You can about that niche, And tackle THE problems that You are motivated has solve. It will be give You THE solid foundation that You need.

What are a few of THE most pressing problems focused towards AI as he evolves?

Progress In THE pass 15 years has has been fast, And We have seen AI move out of THE laboratory And In some products without Really having take a step back has correctly assess THE situation And anticipate THE consequences. A example that come has spirit East how a lot of OUR voice And language technology carried out better In English that other LANGUAGES. It is not has say that researchers to have ignored other LANGUAGES. Significant effort has has been put In no English language technology. Again, THE involuntary result of better English language technology means that were building And rolling out technology that doesn't serve everyone also.

What are a few problems AI users should be aware of ?

I think people should be aware that AI is not it A money ball How's it going solve all problems In THE following little years. He can be fast has build A impressed...