Issue 124: Celebrating Women in Tech
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. In honor of International Women’s Day, this week, we’re thinking about women in tech. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Celebrating Women in Tech
Happy international women’s day! This year, the United Nations theme for women’s day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The decision highlights the degree to which technology is vital for advancing women’s rights. Still, there is a growing digital gender gap impacting everything from job opportunities for women to their online safety. In many parts of the world, women have less access to the internet than men, and women remain vastly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Thinking outside of the box. One way to increase women's visibility in tech is to think outside the box. Consider the new field of Femtech. The term was coined by entrepreneur Ida Tin in 2016 and describes the innovation and technology development focused on health issues that only or disproportionately impact women. While the sector doesn’t get nearly the funding other parts of the tech industry receive, it’s already worth $1 trillion. What’s more important is how Femtech establishes a proof of concept: women-led companies can use technology to help endemic gender problems worldwide.
Leaning on governments. Technology doesn’t know any borders. Many innovations take place far away from the offices of Silicon Valley. This is part of what inspires us about the future of innovation. As one of the leading knowledge economies in the world, the UAE has been leading in several benchmarks regarding women in tech. With more investment into Femtech and other initiatives, the UAE can establish itself as one of the global beacons in this technological revolution. We are excited to be on the ground, watching this transformation. There is no better way to honor women’s day than to embrace the achievements made in this society and chart the course for a future of innovation.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Computing is too important to be left to men.”
– Karen Spärck Jones, computer scientist
CHART OF THE WEEK
We are looking at luxury watches. The secondary market for luxury watches from the likes of Rolex is booming. Investing in these watches can provide better returns than investing in the S&P 500.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
What does ChatGPT think about Women in Tech? As part of our ongoing experiment with AI in Backstory, we turned to Chat GPT for some perspectives on how women are faring in the tech sector. More specifically, we asked ChatGPT views on women in tech and how the Middle East can lead. Here is the editing response:
The future of women in technology is promising, but there is still work to be done to achieve true gender equality in this field. Here are some of the trends and issues that will likely shape the future of women in technology: increased representation, closing the gender pay gap, promoting diversity and inclusion, more women in leadership positions, and addressing bias and discrimination.
The Middle East has a young and tech-savvy population, with a high percentage of the population being under 30 years old. This demographic is enthusiastic about technology and can help drive innovation and growth in the industry. Several Middle Eastern countries have made significant investments in technology infrastructure and education, with a focus on developing a skilled workforce to support the tech industry. For example, Dubai has launched initiatives such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Silicon Oasis, which have attracted tech companies and startups to the region.
However, there are also challenges that need to be addressed in order for the Middle East to fully realize its potential in the field of technology. These include issues related to funding, regulatory frameworks, and access to talent. Nonetheless, with the right investments, policies, and initiatives, the Middle East can certainly emerge as a leader in the technology industry.
We are pleasantly surprised by this answer from our AI partner, even though the writing could be clearer. We will keep checking in with ChatGPT for its perspective on various issues. If you have specific questions, feel free to let us know.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Phoning home from space. The Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi phoned home from very far away this week. Al Neyadi is settling in on the International Space Station and spoke with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, The UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, via a special video link. Sultan Al Neyadi is the second Emirati in space and plans to spend six months onboard the International Space Station participating in scientific research projects before returning to Earth. Quartz has a fascinating article about the space race unfolding in the Middle East. If you are looking for a bit of history and new perspectives on how space exploration is changing the region, this article is full of information.
The life and death of the stick shift. Do you drive a manual transmission car? The answer depends on what part of the world you are from. In some western countries, the stick shift fell out of favor years ago. While in many parts of the Global South, the stick shift is part and parcel of the road. According to this fun article in the Wall Street Journal, the stick shift is making a strong comeback thanks to young people in the US and the burgeoning electric vehicle market. One thing is certain, never rule out a consumer product because they often have non-linear adoption patterns.
QUICK HITS
Should algorithms control nuclear codes?
The next intellectual revolution.
How AI is changing branding.
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