Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of business in unprecedented ways. From enhancing the customer experience and personalization to driving innovation and efficiency, AI is creating new opportunities and challenges for businesses across industries. But what is the role of AI in the future of business? And how can businesses leverage the power of AI to create a competitive edge and a positive impact?

To explore these questions and more, Cathy Hackl, a leading tech futurist and media personality, interviewed Sandy Carter, the chief operating officer at Unstoppable Domains, a Web3-powered site host that enables users to create decentralized websites and domains. The interview was part of the AIQ podcast series presented by Microsoft Advertising, which features conversations with experts and thought leaders on the latest trends and topics in AI.

The Potential of AI to Transform Industries

Carter, who has over 30 years of experience in the tech industry and has authored several books on AI, the metaverse, and Web3, shared her insights on how AI is impacting various sectors and domains, such as healthcare, education, entertainment, and social media. She highlighted some of the examples of how AI is enabling new possibilities and solutions, such as:

Healthcare: AI is helping to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, as well as personalized medicine and care. For instance, AI can help to detect cancer at an early stage, recommend the best treatment options, and monitor the patient’s progress and recovery. AI can also help to create digital twins of organs and systems, which can be used to simulate and test different scenarios and outcomes.
Education: AI is helping to enhance learning and teaching, as well as to democratize access to education and knowledge. For example, AI can help to create adaptive and personalized learning paths, provide feedback and guidance, and facilitate collaboration and communication. AI can also help to create immersive and interactive learning experiences, such as virtual and augmented reality, which can increase engagement and retention.
Entertainment: AI is helping to create new forms of entertainment and storytelling, as well as enrich and diversify the content and experiences. For instance, AI can help generate realistic and expressive characters, scenes, and sounds, as well as customize and adapt the content and narratives to the preferences and emotions of the audience. AI can also help to create social and interactive entertainment, such as games, chatbots, and avatars, which can foster connection and community.
Social Media: AI is helping to enhance and optimize social media platforms and services, as well as empower and protect users and creators. For example, AI can help to improve the quality and relevance of the content and recommendations, as well as measure and optimize their performance and impact. AI can also help to detect and prevent harmful and abusive content and behavior, as well as promote positive and meaningful interactions and engagement.

The Importance of Web3 Technologies for Authenticity and Trust

Carter also discussed the importance of Web3 technologies, such as the blockchain, for ensuring authenticity and trust in the digital world. She explained that Web3 is the next evolution of the internet, which aims to create a more decentralized, open, and user-centric web where users have more control and ownership over their data, identity, and assets. She said that Web3 technologies can help to address some of the challenges and limitations of the current web, such as:

Centralization: The current web is dominated by a few powerful platforms and intermediaries, which have a lot of influence and control over the data, content, and services. This can create issues such as censorship, manipulation, and exploitation, as well as limit the diversity and innovation of the web.
Security: The current web is vulnerable to cyberattacks, hacks, and breaches, which can compromise the privacy and security of the users and their data. This can create risks such as identity theft, fraud, and blackmail, as well as damage the reputation and trust of the users and the platforms.
Scalability: The current web is facing challenges in scaling and maintaining the performance and quality of the data, content, and services as the demand and complexity of the web increase. This can create problems such as congestion, latency, and errors, as well as increase the cost and energy consumption of the web.

Carter said that Web3 technologies can help to overcome these challenges and create a more authentic and trustworthy web by enabling features such as:

Decentralization: Web3 technologies can enable a more distributed and peer-to-peer web where users can directly interact and transact with each other without relying on third-party platforms and intermediaries. This can create more autonomy and democracy, as well as more diversity and innovation, on the web.
Security: Web3 technologies can enable a more secure and resilient web where users can encrypt and verify their data, identity, and assets using cryptographic methods and protocols. This can create more privacy and protection, as well as more transparency and accountability, on the web.
Scalability: Web3 technologies can enable a more scalable and efficient web where users can store and process their data, content, and services using distributed networks and systems. This can create more speed and reliability, as well as more affordability and sustainability, on the web.

The Significance of Women’s Involvement in Shaping the AI Landscape

Carter also shared her views on the significance of women’s involvement in shaping the AI landscape, as well as the challenges and opportunities for women in the AI field. She said that women have a lot to contribute and benefit from AI, as AI can create new possibilities and solutions for women’s empowerment and advancement, as well as address some of the issues and needs that affect women. She also said that women have a lot of responsibility and influence in ensuring that AI is ethical and inclusive, as AI can also create new challenges and risks for women’s rights and well-being, as well as amplify some of the biases and inequalities that exist in society.

Carter said that some of the challenges that women face in the AI field include:

Lack of representation: Women are underrepresented and undervalued in the AI field, both as users and creators of AI. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, only 22% of AI professionals globally are women, and only 12% of AI researchers are women. This can create a gap and imbalance in the perspectives and inputs that shape the development and deployment of AI, as well as limit the opportunities and benefits that women can access and enjoy from AI.
Lack of education: Women are undereducated and undertrained in the AI field, both as learners and teachers of AI. According to a report by UNESCO, only 35% of STEM students in higher education globally are women, and only 3% of female students choose to study information and communication technologies. This can create a barrier and disadvantage for women to acquire and apply the skills and knowledge that are essential and valuable for the AI field, as well as inspire and mentor the next generation of women in AI.
Lack of support: Women are under-supported and under-recognized in the AI field, both as leaders and innovators of AI. According to a report by Element AI, only 13.8% of AI startups globally have at least one female co-founder, and only 8.9% of AI patents have at least one female inventor. This can create a challenge and discouragement for women to pursue and excel in the AI field, as well as to showcase and celebrate their achievements and contributions in AI.

Carter said that some of the opportunities that women have in the AI field include:

Leveraging their strengths: Women have a lot of strengths and skills that are relevant and valuable for the AI field, such as creativity, empathy, collaboration, and communication. Women can leverage these strengths and skills to create and use AI in innovative and impactful ways, as well as to bridge and connect with different stakeholders and communities in the AI ecosystem.
Leveraging their networks: Women have a lot of networks and resources that are supportive and helpful for the AI field, such as mentors, peers, role models, and organizations. Women can leverage these networks and resources to learn and grow in the AI field, as well as to share and exchange their experiences and insights in AI.
Leveraging their voice: Women have a lot of voice and influence that are important and powerful for the AI field, such as opinions, perspectives, and values. Women can leverage their voice and influence to shape and advocate for the AI field, as well as to raise awareness and educate others about AI.

The Key Takeaways from the AIQ Podcast

The AIQ podcast series presented by Microsoft Advertising aims to provide listeners with the latest and most relevant information and insights on AI, as well as to inspire and empower them to discover and explore the possibilities and opportunities that AI can offer. The podcast series features conversations with experts and thought leaders from different fields and domains who share their knowledge and experience on how AI is impacting and transforming their industries and sectors, as well as their vision and predictions on how AI will shape the future of business and society.

The latest episode of the AIQ podcast featured Sandy Carter, the chief operating officer at Unstoppable Domains, who discussed the role of AI in the future of business, as well as the importance of Web3 technologies and women’s involvement in the AI landscape. Some of the key takeaways from the podcast include:

AI is transforming the world of business in unprecedented ways, creating new opportunities and challenges for businesses across industries.
Web3 technologies, such as the blockchain, are enabling a more decentralized, open, and user-centric web, which can ensure more authenticity and trust in the digital world.
Women have a significant role and responsibility in shaping the AI landscape, as well as a lot of potential to benefit from AI.