Artificial Intelligence continues to change industries and reshape existing society. Contribution of women in this AI revolution is remarkable. Among many women involved in this revolution Raji Arasu, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Autodesk has gained the spotlight today.
Her career exemplifies innovation, leadership and commitment to technology. Her experience in leveraging AI to solve complex problems combined with her advocacy to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has made her a transformative figure in the AI and technology world.
Pioneering AI solution for Decades
In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Arasu reflected on her long career for decades in technology. In that she specifically mentioned her early adoption of AI to address critical software challenges. When traditional software development approaches, that can be procedural, deterministic, or other conventional methods, I have struggled to address many complex problems. All those times I’ve always turned to AI, to get solutions, one main challenge was handling unstructured data,” she shared.
Let’s delve into her journey, she began her career in 1993 in Oracle as an engineering technical lead. Later she climbed the career ladder as senior manager in eBay, where she later became Vice President of Technology.
Following these roles Arasu joined four years ago, in Autodesk she oversees groundbreaking advancements in AI applications for construction automation, 3D modeling, and engineering design.
Rising Above from Challenges
There is no success story without struggles and Arasu is not an exemption. When asked about how she tackled all those, she proudly credits her success to her professional network.
“During my early days, I was very lucky to have a good set of mentors. They played an important role in boldly voicing my opinions, boosting my confidence, standing up for myself and so on.”, she replied.
Since she recognized how her network and mentorship positively impacted her growth, she has become a vocal advocate for underrepresented groups and women in tech. While addressing this she emphasized “Ensuring that women, people of color, and individuals with diverse backgrounds are part of strategic decision-making is vital”.
AI Advancements and Potential Risks
Arasu has experienced first hand in using the potential of AI. Her leadership has initiated the company’s research and developmental efforts in using AI and domain specific – fine tuning of large models. This helped them to solve real life problems. While mentioning she mentions,
“Advances in Gen AI, computing power, domain-specific fine tuning of large models have already broken boundaries of the research labs and brought these technologies into the real world”.
Arasu is also happy by the speed at which AI is revolutionising the industries of different sectors, such as education, finance, healthcare etc. While talking about the advancements there is equal risk and potential problems with AI, such as transparency, ethical issues, data privacy and many more. These challenges are not just hypothetical because reports reveal that AI systems such as facial recognition systems are critically in need of ethical AI development.
Studies from MIT and Stanford have shown that AI systems show racial and gender bias that may lead to harmful consequences. This again emphasizes on Arasu’s stress for ethical AI needs.
Arasu advocates for “close collaboration” between industry and government to create well-informed AI policies. However, she cautioned that effective policy can only emerge from multidisciplinary and diverse collaborative groups. “Unlike past revolutions, there is now a clear recognition that inclusive participation — especially by women — is essential for achieving fairer, more innovative outcomes in AI and other emerging technologies,” she said.
This perspective aligns with global efforts to promote inclusivity in AI development. In 2023, the UNESCO Global Agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in AI governance. Similarly, the World Economic Forum’s Global AI Action Alliance has emphasized the need for gender equity in AI leadership to ensure the technology reflects a broader range of human experiences.
Championing Women’s Role in AI
As AI reshapes industries, Arasu believes women’s involvement is crucial to ensure the technology reflects diverse human experiences. “As AI reshapes industries like healthcare, education, and finance, women’s involvement ensures the technology reflects a broader range of human experiences,” she noted.
Her advocacy for women in AI echoes broader efforts to close the gender gap in tech. A 2024 report by the World Economic Forum found that women hold only 22% of AI-related roles globally, underscoring the need for greater representation. Initiatives like AI4All and Women in AI are working to address this disparity by providing mentorship, training, and networking opportunities for women in the field.
Looking Ahead
As Raji Arasu continues to shape Autodesk’s AI strategy, her commitment to innovation and ethical development serves as a blueprint for the industry. Her advocacy for diversity, collaboration, and responsible practices highlights the importance of inclusive leadership in navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI.
Arasu’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, collaboration, and ethical innovation. By spotlighting voices like hers, the tech industry can ensure that the AI revolution benefits everyone, paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive future.