AI is evolving from a Q&A tool into autonomous "agents" that can plan, make decisions, and complete multi-step tasks on your behalf — like browsing the web, sending emails, or managing projects. Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will leverage task-specific AI agents by 2026, compared to less than 5% in 2025.
Discussion promptHow do we ensure AI agents remain accountable and aligned with our values?
In 2026, AI won't just summarize papers or answer questions — it will actively join the process of discovery in physics, chemistry, and biology, generating hypotheses and collaborating with human researchers. In healthcare, it's helping with earlier diagnoses and personalized treatment.
Discussion promptWhat role can women in science play in steering AI research ethics?
The battle over regulating AI is heading for a showdown — the White House and states are sparring over who gets to govern the technology, while AI companies wage fierce lobbying campaigns, armed with the narrative that a patchwork of state laws will smother innovation. Globally, the EU AI Act is also coming into force.
Discussion promptWhat does fair and inclusive AI governance look like, and who should have a seat at the table?
Between improvements in generative AI and a US administration using the technology for propaganda, the long-predicted threat of weaponized deepfakes has arrived. From nonconsensual intimate images to political misinformation, this is one of AI's most urgent harm areas.
Discussion promptHow can women in AI lead the fight against synthetic media abuse?
The open-source AI ecosystem has grown significantly, with smaller, domain-specific models achieving impressive results — and China's DeepSeek has shocked the world by competing with far larger labs. Expect more Silicon Valley apps to quietly ship on top of Chinese open models, and the lag between Chinese releases and the Western frontier to keep shrinking.
Discussion promptDoes open-source AI democratize power — or create new risks?
AI models can now identify anomalies, automate alerts, and respond to incidents long before threats escalate — but as defenders use AI, so do attackers, with AI enabling new forms of phishing, malware, and data theft. Every AI agent should have security protections equivalent to those of a human employee.
Discussion promptAs AI reshapes cybersecurity, how do we bring more women into this critical field?