The most influential women in AI: Celebrating International Women’s Day

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we embrace this year’s theme, 'Accelerate Action,' which calls for decisive steps toward achieving gender equality.

At Quin AI, we're proud to be a women-led AI company redefining how businesses personalize digital experiences. Founded by sisters Gulsah (CEO) and Gonca (CTO), Quin AI uses real-time generative behavioral AI to predict visitor behavior and deliver hyper-personalization at scale, driving engagement and conversion rates.

In line with this year’s International Women's Day theme, we’re committed to taking meaningful action to support women-led initiatives and recognize the contributions of women in AI.

For example, we’re offering Quin AI free for an entire year to charities championing women’s rights and causes to help them boost donations and engagement. We’ve already begun conversations with multiple organizations and will share updates as we welcome new partners.

Our GTM Lead, Tom, is also running the Brighton Marathon to raise £1,000 for Breast Cancer Now. Join us in supporting this important cause by donating through his JustGiving link here.

But our celebration of International Women’s Day goes beyond charitable initiatives. We also want to recognize and celebrate the remarkable women shaping the future of AI today.

10 most influential women in AI

These women are pushing the boundaries of technology, leading groundbreaking companies, and inspiring the next generation of AI leaders. Here are our top 10 for 2025:

1. Fei-Fei Li, Co-Founder and CEO of World Labs

• Website: https://www.worldlabs.ai/

Profile: Renowned AI researcher Fei-Fei Li co-founded World Labs to develop AI technologies capable of understanding the three-dimensional physical world. With a background that includes pioneering work on ImageNet and leadership roles at Stanford University and Google Cloud, Li's new venture focuses on advancing spatial intelligence in AI applications.

Company: World Labs aims to revolutionize artificial intelligence by enhancing its ability to comprehend and interact with the 3D world. This advancement has significant implications for fields such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and robotics, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

2. Cynthia Breazeal, Founder and Director of the Personal Robots Group at MIT Media Lab

Website: https://www.media.mit.edu/people/cynthiab/overview/​

Profile: Cynthia Breazeal is a pioneering roboticist renowned for her work in social robotics and human-robot interaction. As a professor at MIT, she founded and directed the Personal Robots Group at the Media Lab, focusing on developing robots that can interact, learn, and collaborate with people in human-centric ways. ​

Company: The Personal Robots Group at MIT Media Lab is dedicated to creating intelligent, personified technologies that bridge the gap between human behavior and robotic systems. By integrating human-centered design, psychology, and advanced computation, the group aims to develop robots that function more like helpful companions than mere tools. ​

3. Daphne Koller, Co-founder of Coursera and Founder/CEO of Insitro

Website: https://www.insitro.com/​

Profile: Daphne Koller is a distinguished computer scientist and entrepreneur, recognized for her contributions to machine learning and its applications in biology and medicine. She co-founded Coursera, a leading online education platform, and later founded Insitro, where she serves as CEO, integrating machine learning with biomedical data to accelerate drug discovery and development. ​

Company: Insitro is a data-driven drug discovery and development company that leverages cutting-edge machine learning techniques to transform the way therapeutics are discovered and developed. By integrating large-scale data generation and advanced computational methods, Insitro aims to address critical challenges in the pharmaceutical industry.​

4. Kate Crawford, Co-founder of the AI Now Institute at NYU

Website: https://ainowinstitute.org/​

Profile: Kate Crawford is a leading researcher and author specializing in the social, political, and environmental implications of artificial intelligence. She co-founded the AI Now Institute at New York University, focusing on understanding the impact of AI on society and advocating for equitable and ethical AI development.

Company: The AI Now Institute is an interdisciplinary research center examining the social implications of artificial intelligence. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of AI's impact on society and develop frameworks for ensuring that AI technologies are transparent, equitable, and accountable.​

5. Rana el Kaliouby, Co-founder and Former CEO of Affectiva

Website: https://www.affectiva.com/

Profile: Rana el Kaliouby is a pioneer in emotion AI, focusing on teaching machines to understand human emotions. She co-founded Affectiva, a company that specializes in emotion recognition technology and has been a prominent advocate for ethical AI development, emphasizing the importance of human-centric approaches in technology. ​

Company: Affectiva is a leader in the field of emotion AI, developing technologies that analyze facial expressions and emotions to improve human-computer interactions. Their work spans various applications, including automotive safety, market research, and healthcare, aiming to make technology more empathetic and responsive to human needs. ​

6. Timnit Gebru, Co-founder of Black in AI

Website: https://blackinai.github.io/​

Profile: Timnit Gebru is a renowned researcher in AI ethics, known for her work on algorithmic bias and advocating for transparency and accountability in AI development. She co-founded Black in AI, an organization dedicated to increasing the representation and inclusion of Black individuals in the field of artificial intelligence.

Company: Black in AI is an organization that aims to increase the presence and visibility of Black professionals in the field of artificial intelligence. By providing community support, advocacy, and mentorship, Black in AI works towards diversifying the AI landscape and addressing issues of bias and representation in technology.

7. Joy Buolamwini, Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League

Website: https://www.ajl.org/

Profile: Joy Buolamwini is a pioneering computer scientist and digital activist renowned for her work in identifying and mitigating bias in artificial intelligence systems. As the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, she leads efforts to promote equitable and accountable AI by addressing issues of bias in facial recognition technologies and advocating for ethical AI development. Her research and advocacy have been instrumental in raising awareness about the social implications of AI.​

Company: The Algorithmic Justice League is an organization dedicated to ensuring that AI technologies serve all people fairly and equitably. By combining art, research, and advocacy, the organization aims to highlight and address biases in AI systems, promote transparency, and foster a broader dialogue on the ethical design and use of AI.​

8. Manuela Veloso, Head of AI Research at JPMorgan Chase

Website: https://www.jpmorgan.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/about/manuela-veloso

Profile: Dr. Manuela Veloso is a distinguished computer scientist recognized for her extensive contributions to artificial intelligence and robotics. As the Head of AI Research at JPMorgan Chase and Herbert A. Simon University Professor Emerita at Carnegie Mellon University, she has advanced the development of autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. Her leadership in AI research continues to influence both academic and industrial applications.​

Company: JPMorgan Chase's AI Research division focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance financial services. Under Dr. Veloso's leadership, the team explores innovative AI solutions to improve decision-making, customer experience, and operational efficiency within the banking sector.​

9. Francesca Rossi, IBM Fellow and AI Ethics Global Leader at IBM Research

Website: https://www.ibm.com/think/author/francesca-rossi

Profile: Francesca Rossi is an esteemed computer scientist specializing in artificial intelligence and AI ethics. As an IBM Fellow and the AI Ethics Global Leader at IBM Research, she focuses on integrating ethical considerations into AI development and deployment. Her work aims to ensure that AI systems align with human values and promote societal well-being.​

Company: IBM Research is a global leader in advancing information technology through research and innovation. The organization conducts pioneering work in various domains, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cloud computing, to address complex challenges and drive technological progress.​

10. Anna Patterson, Founder and Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures

Website: https://www.gradient.com/

Profile: Anna Patterson is a trailblazer in search technology and artificial intelligence, with a notable career that includes serving as a Vice President at Google. She played a pivotal role in developing AI-driven search technologies and founded startups that advanced natural language understanding. Currently, as the Founder and Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures, she invests in and mentors early-stage AI companies, fostering innovation in the field.​

Company: Gradient Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage startups that are leveraging artificial intelligence to create transformative products and services. By providing capital, resources, and mentorship, Gradient Ventures aims to accelerate the development and adoption of AI technologies across various industries

Why more women in AI matters

The future of AI is brighter when diverse perspectives shape it. But as things stand, there's still a long way to go. Women make up only 30% of AI professionals, and in leadership, the gap is even starker: less than 14% hold senior executive roles (UN Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Interface).

This isn't just an equality issue; it’s a missed opportunity for innovation. AI built with diverse voices has the potential to result in more inclusive and ethical solutions, opening up new possibilities and shaping a brighter future for the field.

At Quin AI, we're committed to doing our part to make this happen. This year’s initiatives are just the start of what we can contribute to women in AI. So, watch this space – we'll announce new projects to support women in AI later this year!