January 19, Amritapuri, Kollam: The South Asian Chapter of Women for Ethical AI (W4EAI) under UNESCO was officially inaugurated during the International Conference on Gender and Technology, held at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham from January 16 to 19, 2025. This milestone event marked a significant step forward in promoting women’s participation and leadership in ethical AI development across South Asia.

The formal announcement was made in the presence of UNESCO Representative Gabriela Ramos, Prof. Eunsong Kim, Chief of the SHS Section, UNESCO South Asia Region, and Dr. Ramadevi Lanka. Led by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, the initiative seeks to unite women from diverse sectors—industry, government, and civil society—to drive innovation and inclusivity in AI technologies.

The conference’s closing ceremony was graced by Dr. Justin Paul as the distinguished guest, along with prominent figures such as Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, President of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham; Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh, University Provost; Dr. Bhavani Rao, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences; Dr. Krishnashree Achuthan, Dean of PG Programs at the School of Engineering; Gayathri Manikutty; Dr. Unnikrishnan Radhakrishnan; Dr. B.S. Manoj, Chair of the IEEE Kerala Chapter; and Rachael Akohonae.

The four-day conference, sponsored by the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) and its Kerala Chapter, provided a dynamic platform for over 50 experts. Attendees engaged in keynote sessions, panel discussions, a mega hackathon, workshops, and exhibitions, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of gender and technology.

The launch of the South Asian Chapter of W4EAI stands as a testament to the commitment to ethical AI and gender equality. With its foundation laid at Amritapuri, this initiative is set to make a lasting impact on technology development and policy in the region.