The Digital Almaty 2025 Forum, held from January 31 to February 1, solidified its position as Central Asia’s premier platform for technological innovation, attracting over 40,000 attendees and global leaders to discuss AI’s transformative role in industry and society[2][13][15]. Among its standout sessions was the panel “Gender-Biased AI: Technologies for a New Era,” organized by the Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter, which tackled systemic gender biases in artificial intelligence and charted pathways toward inclusive innovation.

Session Highlights: Unmasking AI’s Gender Challenges

Moderated by Assem Bolatzhan (Advisor to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development and Chapter Director of Women in Tech Kazakhstan), the panel featured global experts, including Ayumi Moore Aoki (Founder & CEO of Women in Tech Global) and Alessandra Sala (Shutterstock’s Sr. Director of AI), who dissected critical issues:

1. Embedded Stereotypes in Language Models
– Large language models like GPT-3 perpetuate historical biases, associating women with caregiving roles (e.g., “nurse” or “teacher”) and men with leadership or technical positions.
– A 2017 Science study revealed algorithms linking “women” to “family” and “men” to “career,” reflecting skewed training data from internet texts.

2. The Voice Assistant Paradox
– Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa predominantly use female voices, reinforcing stereotypes of women as submissive helpers. A 2019 UNESCO report criticized this trend, noting how phrases like “I didn’t understand” in a female voice perpetuate harmful norms.

3. Workforce Disparities
– Only 22% of AI professionals are women (World Economic Forum, 2021), while women constitute just **35% of AI tool users**, highlighting exclusion in both development and adoption.

4. Risks of Biased Data
– University of Washington researchers found 50% of AI outputs reinforce gender stereotypes, such as linking “doctor” to men and “nurse” to women.

Pathways to Equity: Solutions in Action

Panelists emphasized actionable strategies to counter bias:
– Feminist Data Set Project: OpenAI and Google now train models on balanced datasets, reducing bias by ~40%[1].
– Policy Advocacy: Kazakhstan’s upcoming AI regulatory bill and National AI Development Strategy aim to institutionalize inclusivity[2][13].
– Education & Mentorship: The Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter, launched in 2024, is bridging gaps through skill-building programs and global networking.

Why This Matters
As Ayumi Moore Aoki noted, “Inclusive AI isn’t just ethical—it’s economically imperative.” With AI projected to add $20 trillion to the global GDP by 2030], diverse perspectives are critical to ensuring technologies serve all communities equitably.

Join the Movement
The session underscored Women in Tech Global’s mission to empower 5 million women in STEAM by 2030. From Kazakhstan’s local initiatives to global advocacy, the fight against gender-biased AI requires collective action.

Get involved
Explore mentorship opportunities, support gender-balanced AI projects, or join our upcoming Global Summit in Osaka 2025. Together, we can shape a future where technology reflects the diversity of the world it serves.

Bereke Bank has officially partnered with Women in Tech Global, marking a significant step towards empowering women in technology and innovation across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Partnership Highlights

The collaboration between Bereke Bank and Women in Tech Global includes:

• Sponsorship of the Kazakhstan delegation to the upcoming Women in Tech Global Summit in Osaka, Japan
• Support for women in acquiring new skills in IT technologies, finance, and digital project development
• Collaboration with the Women in Tech Kazakhstan chapter

Alina Anikina, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of JSC Bereke Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to education and empowerment: “Our girls are very talented and successful, with an entrepreneurial streak, they create their own startup projects and conquer markets. We support the initiatives of Women in Tech and give the Kazakhstani delegation the opportunity to join global technology leaders and show their projects, expand horizons and move towards future innovations with greater confidence”.

Empowering Women in Technology

Women in Tech Global, an international non-profit organization, aims to close the gender gap in various industries, including IT, finance, engineering, and science. The organization focuses on education, business, digital inclusion, and promoting equal opportunities.

Ayumi Moore Aoki, founder, president and CEO of Women in Tech Global, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are pleased to welcome Bereke Bank among our new partners. Our collaboration is a significant step towards fulfilling our mission to inspire more women to succeed in technology and innovation in Kazakhstan and Central Asia”.

Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter

Launched in September 2024, the Kazakhstan chapter of Women in Tech is set to make a significant impact. Asem Bolatzhan, Director of Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter, shared their vision: “The Kazakhstan chapter is designed to help develop and educate strong professionals, independent and talented women leaders. We plan to build a strong and supportive community where Kazakhstani women will gain new knowledge and skills, will be able to exchange experiences and get opportunities for joint projects and collaborations with other participants”.

Bereke Bank’s Commitment to Innovation

Bereke Bank has demonstrated its dedication to developing new competencies and flexible product development methods. The bank operates fully under the SAFe operating model and boasts a strong team of certified experts who share their knowledge both within the company and in the broader market.

This partnership between Bereke Bank and Women in Tech Global represents a significant step towards fostering innovation and supporting women’s advancement in technology sectors in Kazakhstan and beyond. As we continue to work towards closing the gender gap in tech, collaborations like these pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse future in the world of technology and innovation.

In a significant move towards advancing women’s roles in technology and innovation, the Women in Tech Global organization has launched its Kazakhstan chapter. This development marks a crucial step in fostering gender equality and empowerment in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) within the Central Asian region.

A Platform for Progress

The launch event, held on September 4, 2024, in Almaty, brought together an impressive array of speakers, including business leaders and technology experts.

Asem Bolatjan, Director of the Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter and Advisor to the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized the organization’s goals: “We aim to create a support network for women in technology in Kazakhstan, increase their visibility at all levels, and help them integrate into the global community to develop their careers and contribute to the future of the country” (Women in Tech Kazakhstan, 2024).

Global Vision, Local Impact

Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech® Global, delivered a motivational speech titled “Breaking Barriers, Building the Future: A Purposeful Journey to Empower Women in STEAM Around the World.” Aoki highlighted the organization’s global reach, uniting 250,000 members across 50 countries, and outlined plans to support women in technology.

Addressing Key Challenges

The event featured panel discussions on critical topics such as flexible leadership and women’s roles in the venture industry. These sessions, led by prominent figures like Alina Aldambergen, Chairman of the Board of JSC Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and Philippe Vogeleer, Member of the Board of Freedom Holding, explored strategies for increasing women’s participation and leadership in tech-related fields.

Empowering Girls and Women

The launch of the Kazakhstan chapter represents a significant opportunity for girls and women in the region:

1. Mentorship and Networking: By connecting local talent with global leaders, the chapter provides valuable mentorship opportunities and expands professional networks.
2. Skill Development: Through various initiatives and partnerships, women can access resources for enhancing their technical skills and knowledge.
3. Visibility and Recognition: The platform aims to increase the visibility of women in STEAM, potentially leading to more opportunities and recognition in their fields.
4. Inspiration for Future Generations: By showcasing successful women in technology, the chapter can inspire young girls to pursue STEAM careers.
5. Policy Influence: The organization’s presence can influence local policies to support gender equality in education and the workplace.

Looking Ahead

As the Women in Tech Kazakhstan Chapter embarks on its mission, it sets the stage for transformative change in the local tech landscape. By fostering a supportive community and providing resources for professional growth, the chapter aims to bridge the gender gap in STEAM fields and contribute to Kazakhstan’s technological advancement.

The success of this initiative could serve as a model for similar efforts in other regions, potentially catalyzing a global movement towards greater gender equality in technology and innovation.

For more information about Women in Tech Global and its initiatives, visit Women in Tech Global.
Join the Women In Tech Kazakhstan Chapter!