The lack of diversity in the tech industry has been something of a sore on the sector for many years, but this lack of proper representation has perhaps become more pressing as the biased development of AI-based systems has come to the fore.

It’s an issue that the Alan Turing Institute are well aware of, as they are attempting to better understand the role women play in data science and AI in the UK, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion in tech workplaces, and the impact this has on the design of AI systems.

As part of this work, they have developed a Diversity Dashboard tool, which is designed to sit on top of tools such as Slack and GitHub and provide real-time insights into the dynamics of gendered interactions between employees.

The ultimate aim is to highlight the potential differences in how men and women are treated in the workplace, and provide insights into how managers can better improve inclusion whilst ensuring the privacy of both employees and the wider organization.

The Institute hope that it will help the industry with the attraction and retention of diverse talent, whilst also making workplaces more inclusive of traditionally under-represented groups, and rendering the broader tech industry less exclusionary towards women and minorities.

The tool is now open for companies to use, and you can see more about the project in the video below.