Global #GirlsInAI event set to empower the next generation of Ada Lovelaces

Acorn Aspirations, the award-winning social impact enterprise, is partnering with Mastercard and Microsoft to run a global tech bootcamp for young women aged 11-18 years in London and San Francisco over the weekend of 13th – 14th October 2018.

Over 150 girls will explore Artificial Intelligence and be challenged to use AI and machine learning to solve some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including gender equality, quality education, reduced inequalities, good health and well-being.

Elena Sinel, Founder and CEO of Acorn Aspirations, said: “#GirlsInAI empowers the next generation of Ada Lovelaces to solve real world problems through AI and Machine Learning, by building partnerships with business, government and academia. By enabling more cross-sector and global collaboration opportunities, we believe young girls will have a chance to shape their future in a way that is inclusive, sustainable and critical to long-term global prosperity.”
Mentors and Speakers
Mentors and speakers come from some of the most distinguished tech companies in the world, including Mastercard, Microsoft, Brighterion, Google, Twitter, Women Who Code, Intel, YouTube, IEEE, CognitionX, Accenture, Sephora and many more.
San Francisco judges include:
Akli Adjaoute, Founder and CEO, Brighterion; Susan Warner, Founder of Girls4Tech; Rumman Chowdhury, Sr. Principle of Artificial Intelligence, Accenture; Bogdana Rakova, Sr. Research Engineer, Samsung Think Tank Team; Briana Whelan, Director of Product, SnapDocs; Nilay Yener, Program Manager, Flutter DevRel Women Techmakers Lead, Istanbul.

London judges include:
Tabitha Goldstaub, Chair of UK AI Council; Galiya Warrier, Data Solution Architect, Microsoft; Kate Rosenshine, Data and AI, Microsoft; Didem Un Ates, Sr. Director AI Customer & Partner Engagement, Microsoft; Georgie Barrat, Tech Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC Channel Five.

The #GirlsInAI event is part of Acorn Aspirations’ Teens in AI movement, which exists to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence. The movement aims to democratise AI and create pipelines for underrepresented talent through a combination of expert mentoring, talks, workshops, hackathons, accelerators, company tours and networking opportunities that give young people aged 12-18 years early exposure to AI for social good.

Ajay Bhalla, President of Cyber and Intelligence Solutions at Mastercard, said: “Artificial Intelligence has the potential to shape the future more than any other technological innovation. That’s why we’re committed to programs like Girls in AI and our own Girls4Tech. It’s how we can help the next generation be ready and empowered to create and maximize every opportunity ahead of them.”

Didem Ün Ates, Sr. Director AI Customer & Partner Engagement at Microsoft says “We need to work harder than ever to have more women and girls in technology and AI. We are excited to collaborate with Acorn Aspirations team on this meaningful, impactful initiative and look forward to expanding our partnership in other regions such as Canada and China.”
Prizes
Prizes for participants include: mentoring by Mastercard AI experts, books by Rachael O’Meara, invitations to TedX Talk, workshops by Microsoft, Nova DIY AI Robot kits, lunch and a tour of Microsoft’s HQ.

A third #GirlsinAI event is scheduled in Shanghai in December 2018.