Mitigating bias in Gen AI

Rim Almaliki of FDM Group explores what role do everyday people play in holding AI accountable.

The global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market currently stands at over USD 243 billion and is expected to surpass USD 826 by 2030. Early adopters are already noticing an uptake in productivity with 81% workers reporting an improvement in performance after using AI.

With these compelling stats, it’s not surprising that the future of tech is likely to be dominated by AI. Each new innovation will create new job roles to match and the biggest surge in roles will arguably be those to develop, implement, and manage AI and its related capabilities.

But given the rapid adoption of AI, a looming concern remains about its use and the threat of misuse. From AI-generated deepfakes leading to an explosion in cybercrime to concerns about intellectual property rights, what are some of the biggest challenges when navigating AI and how can we solve them?

Bias in AI

One of the biggest challenges is that AI learns from the data we give it, and unfortunately, that data often reflects human biases. If we don’t address this upfront, AI can end up amplifying those biases instead of eliminating them. Another challenge is the lack of diversity in the teams building these systems—different perspectives are critical for spotting and addressing blind spots. To solve this, we need diverse teams, better checks and balances in the development process, and open conversations about how AI impacts people differently. It’s not just about technology—it’s about ethics and accountability.

In 2019 women accounted for only 18%of authors at leading AI conferences, 20% of AI professorships, 15% of Facebook and 10% of Google’s research staff. Racial diversity was even worse. With black workers representing only 2.5% of Google’s entire workforce, 4% of Facebook’s and Microsoft’s (Hao, 2019), the problem doesn’t seem to be going away (Raikes, 2023).

How can we ensure AI doesn’t reinforce biases, and what role do everyday people play in holding AI accountable?

The key is to build fairness into AI from the start. This means developers need to be intentional about testing for bias, using diverse datasets, and involving voices from all backgrounds. Everyday people play a huge role, too—they can ask questions, challenge results, and push for transparency. If something seems unfair or biased, speak up. Companies and developers need to listen to that feedback because AI should work for everyone, not just a select group. It's about staying curious and holding organizations accountable for doing better.

Another way of mitigating bias in AI is quite simply to push for better representation in tech. The technology we use must we reflective of the people it serves. Diverse teams of people from varied backgrounds bring diverse perspectives that not only contribute to better decision-making but also help remove unilateral and homogenous thinking. Lateral views and ideas that challenge our own are crucial to challenge biases.

Rim Almaliki

Rector of Skills Lab, North America, FDM Group

With over 25 years of expertise in IT management, technical training, and talent development, Rim Almaliki serves as the Director of Skills Lab, North America, at FDM Group. She leads an innovative, agile-based upskilling ecosystem that prepares consultants for emerging industry demands through tailored learning models and cross-functional pods aligned with client needs and cutting-edge technologies.

In her nearly 10 years at FDM, Rim has been instrumental in transforming over 1,000 individuals into accomplished IT professionals, while also driving strategic initiatives such as scaling consultant operations and launching transformative training solutions. Previously, as a university IT Director, she spearheaded impactful IT strategies. Recognized for her leadership, Rim was a finalist for the "Future CIO of the Year" award at the 2019 WIT Awards.

Rim holds postgraduate and bachelor’s degrees in engineering, along with certifications including PMP, ITIL, and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals. Her passion lies in empowering others, fostering collaboration, and delivering innovative solutions that drive excellence and long-term impact.

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techUK’s TechTogether campaign, taking place throughout March, is a collection of activities highlighting the UK’s technology sector pursuit to shape a more equitable future. In 2025 we are exploring: Inclusive AI, investing in diverse founders and entrepreneurs, the power of allyship and mentorship, and empowering young people.