In this episode we’re thrilled to be interviewing Dr Allison Gardner, who is one of our 2020 keynote speakers in the health tech stream. 

Allison is a Teaching Fellow at Keele University and Programme Director for the Science Foundation Year. Her research is focused on gender and computing, AI ethics, governance of AI and the use of machine learning to predict disease.

She works on the IEEE P7000 Global Initiative on the Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems and specifically P7003 on algorithmic bias, providing a framework for Algorithmic Impact Assessments. Allison is also one of the co-founders of Women Leading in AI.

In this episode, Allison discusses some of the key issues we need to address when using AI in the health sector. She explains:

• why investors in health tech need to be asking questions about teams as well as tech. 
• why we must hold onto our senior clinicians and prevent deskilling. 
• why it’s absolutely critical that AI systems are designed, developed and deployed correctly. 

Alongside the challenges AI brings to the health sector, we hear about future opportunities, including more personalised medicine and effective disease prediction. 

Lastly, Allison talks in detail about the journey towards regulation and why small nudges and building on existing legal frameworks is the way forward.

We found this a humbling, insightful and inspiring conversation. We hope you enjoy it.

To find out more about Allison Gardner, visit Keele University https://www.keele.ac.uk/scm/staff/, or head to the Women Leading in AI website https://womenleadinginai.org/

The two books referenced in this episode are: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez and What Works: Gender Equality by Design, written by Iris Bohnet.

Allison Gardner will be speaking at the Anthropology + Technology Conference on 9th October. Visit us online at anthtechconf.co.uk and sign up for our newsletter. We’ll be in touch as soon as tickets go on sale.