f<a+i>r: The Feminist AI Research Network
From Critique to Creation
In 2020, via the <A+> Alliance, we established the Feminist AI Research Network (f<a+i>r) to move beyond identifying problems to building solutions. We defined Feminist AI as “artificial intelligence harnessed to deliver equality outcomes, designed with inclusion at the core, creating proactive correction of inequities.”
Our paper → prototype → pilot methodology translated research into tangible solutions across Latin America, Middle East North Africa, and Southeast Asia, with an emerging network in Africa from 2021 to 2024.
Real-World Impact
- AymurAI (Argentina): Developed software that anonymizes judicial documents on gender violence, making critical data accessible. From a Data Genéro collaboration with Buenos Aires Criminal Court 10 to document femicide, AymurAI is now included as a UNESCO case study and is expanding to courts in Mexico and beyond.
- SafeHER (Philippines): An AI transit safety app for Manila, where 80% of women commuters report harassment. Begun as an initiative from a female philosophy professor, then published in the Journal of Transportation Security, and now adopted by De La Salle University for female students in collaboration with Manila municipalities.
- E.D.I.A (Argentina): A bias detection tool for natural language processing from Via Libre and two female computer science professors seeks to democratize debiasing techniques. It has now been taught to 500 Argentine high school teachers and sits on Hugging Face. Recently received Mozilla’s Data Futures Lab 2024 Infrastructure Fund Award.
- SOF+IA (Chile): Built with feminist research and design principles this GenAI chatbot from researchers at University of Chile addresses digital violence against women on social media.
- AI-Based Tutoring (Egypt): Designed for underserved Upper Egypt Community Schools, conceived by an Egyptian Responsible AI Phd candidate, this system was recognized as best research paper at the 2023 HCAI Education and Practice Conference.
Building a Global Community
The <A+> Alliance f<a+i>r Global Directory connects 100+ feminist AI leaders across the majority world, creating unprecedented collaboration opportunities at the intersection of gender equality and technology.