Rana el Kaliouby warns AI may widen the wealth gap for women

In short: Rana el Kaliouby said at SXSW that if women are excluded from AI funding and leadership, AI could become a boys club and increase the wealth gap for women.

What's going on

Rana el Kaliouby, an AI scientist, entrepreneur, and investor, spoke on March 15, 2026 at SXSW in Austin. She responded to recent headlines about AI startups being mostly led and funded by men. She warned that this pattern could have long-term economic consequences for women.

El Kaliouby said women are often pushed to the sidelines in three key places, founding AI companies, getting investment money, and becoming investors themselves. If that continues, she believes the gap could show up clearly in the next 5 to 10 years. Her point was simple, if most of the money and ownership in a fast-growing area goes to one group, that group is more likely to benefit.

She also argued that a lack of diversity can affect what AI systems do and who they work well for. “Diversity” here means having different life experiences in the room when decisions are made, including ethical choices and everyday human needs. She noted this matters even more as some organizations put less focus on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) after policy changes under the Trump administration.

El Kaliouby co-founded Affectiva, a company known for “emotion AI” (software that tries to read feelings from cues like facial expressions), which was sold in 2021. She is now a co-founder and general partner at Blue Tulip Ventures, and she said the firm makes three out of four investments in startups with women CEOs to counter missed opportunities, not to meet a quota.

What to watch

El Kaliouby has also pushed for “human-first” AI leadership in other 2026 appearances, meaning leaders should prioritize empathy and real-world impacts, not just speed. Watch whether more investors and conference organizers change who gets funded and who gets a microphone, because those choices can shape who benefits from AI over time.

Source: TechCrunch AI