Author: Prof. Dr. Iris Lorscheid, Vice-Rector Research and Professor of Digital Business and Data Science Computer Science at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences  

Our world is complex and challenging, and the problems are likely to become more complex in the future. The world becomes more interconnected and globalized as technology advances, the global population grows, and resources become scarcer. All of this needs achievements in innovations in cybersecurity, sustainability, resource management and more. Hybrid Intelligence is the future because it combines the strengths of humans and machines to solve complex problems that neither humans nor machines can solve on their own.

Prof. Dr. Iris Lorscheid

The concept of “Hybrid Intelligence” was introduced by Dominik Dellermann to describe the collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to achieve more effective problem-solving and decision-making. The focus is on developing more advanced AI systems that can work with humans in the best possible way.

Together, human and AI can create solutions that neither could achieve alone. By combining the strengths of both, complex problems can be solved, and new insights can be gained faster, more successfully, and more comprehensively than by working individually.

Humans have long understood that collaboration is more effective than individual effort, which has led to our success. The success of a group depends not only on the best and brightest minds but also on effective teamwork and interaction between individuals. With AI as a new team member, the question now is how we can best strengthen each other and find new solutions together.

To ensure responsible and ethical use of AI, it is critical to discuss ethical considerations when working with it. It is important to ensure that AI systems are safe and reliable in order to prevent harm to people and society. AI systems may perpetuate existing social and cultural biases. Transparency in decision-making processes can aid in the development of trust and accountability for the outcomes produced by AI systems. Protecting personal data privacy is critical in order to protect individuals’ rights and autonomy. Establishing accountability for AI decisions entails ensuring a clear chain of responsibility for any negative outcomes. Addressing these concerns is critical for developing beneficial AI systems that can help individuals and society while minimizing potential harm.

AI should be viewed as a tool to assist humans rather than to replace them. Innovations are an opportunity for a better world, and a better life.

AI can help us understand climate patterns and predict weather conditions by analyzing large amounts of data from various sources such as weather satellites, sensors, and historical climate data.

AI can help farmers maximize crop yields while minimizing waste. Farmers, for example, can use AI-powered sensors to monitor soil moisture levels and plans. AI can provide farmers with the information they need to take preventative measures to save their crops from disease or to increase food production efficiency.

The analysis of complex medical images, patient histories and treatment results will help doctors around the world to come to better conclusions and decisions.

Concerns and fears are frequently associated with the introduction of new technologies such as AI. Overcoming these fears requires an open and informed debate focused on the benefits and potential of hybrid intelligence. By educating the public and encouraging open communication between developers, users, and authorities, these worries can be eased.

Change introduces a variety of challenges that require innovations. Innovations, in turn, cause further change. We need to be open for this reoccuring cycle to create new opportunities and to improve the quality of life for many.

AI advancement holds great promise for addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues. Let’s go on an adventure and investigate the possibilities of human-AI interaction in business, education, and our every-day life.

by Elena Dimova, VP HR Bulgaria and Operations & Technology at Paysafe.

With both finance and technology being traditionally male-dominated fields, and fintech representing a coming together of the two, ensuring strong female representation in our industry has not always been easy. Women’s History Month is a good time to review how gender diversity is evolving in fintech, and look at which external factors are contributing to progress as well as those which would benefit from a renewed focus.

The pandemic, and more specifically the subsequent hybrid and remote working models which followed, is one such catalyst that has brought about changes which are positively impacting diversity in fintech. The resulting increase in flexibility has created more attractive working environments for women who traditionally face more of a challenge with the double burden of work and home responsibilities. Where before they often had to choose between the two, it now seems to have empowered more women to achieve a better balance between their personal and professional lives. While this increase in flexibility wasn’t specifically introduced to support women in the industry, it has created an environment that is largely seen as beneficial for their professional development. And the more women progress in the workforce and in their respective fields, the more visible they become, allowing them to serve as role models for others and hopefully attracting new female applicants.

Other external factors that have indirectly impacted diversity in fintech are the current cost-of-living crisis and increased global migration as a result of the war in Ukraine. While the end-user base of fintech services has traditionally been male-dominated, which has historically led to predominantly male employees tailoring products towards men’s taste, these macroeconomic influences are changing this dynamic as well. We have seen women become a larger part of the user base for fintech services to meet their evolving needs, which should lead to fintech companies giving more careful consideration to female audiences when enhancing existing products and services and developing new ones. Therefore, we can also expect more women to be involved in their development.

In addition to these external trends, which seem to have had a positive impact on female representation in the fintech industry as a whole, there are also certain roles that have traditionally attracted women. Roles such as marketing and client servicing teams, which tend to rely on softer skills, continue to attract female talent, along with risk, compliance and finance, which also have a fair representation of women. This trend seems to be continuing on an upward trajectory, supplemented by the industry’s increased focus on regulation and security, which gives these teams more opportunities for development and growth. When you look at it from this perspective, gender diversity in the fintech industry appears to be at a good level and progressing well.

However, there are some persistent challenges that require a concerted effort by the industry in order to increase diversity and attract more women. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based disciplines like security and product development are areas where women are still under-represented, and fintech is no exception. This is a prime example of a vicious cycle where the preconceptions around these areas being male-dominated put women off pursuing careers in them, which in turn leads to the workforce continuing to be mostly male. This is a challenge that needs to be tackled directly in order to improve female representation. At Paysafe, we work closely with our learning and development teams to attract and retain a more diverse workforce in these areas and provide women with opportunities to progress into senior tech roles within the business.

So, while we are seeing some positive change, to overcome its current diversity challenges, the industry as a whole clearly has a role to play to encourage women to participate in fintech. It is also crucial to work collaboratively with the education industry to effect change at a ‘grass roots’ stage, making STEM more accessible to young girls early on in school. This would go a long way in empowering women to embark on a tech-focused career. Another important factor would be to showcase more successful female role models in tech. That would have a long-term impact on dispelling the preconceived notion of technology being a male-dominated field and making these jobs more attractive to women.

There are also some more immediate steps fintech businesses can take to encourage increased diversity. A good way to start would be to review recruitment practices and make them more accessible for a female audience. From the way job opportunities are communicated, to transparency around internal policies, to training interviewers on unconscious bias, there are a lot of opportunities to improve the process. At Paysafe, we take these areas seriously throughout the full employee lifecycle. This helps us reach more diverse candidates and retain them throughout the process, onboard them as employees and provide an inclusive workplace where they can progress in their careers.

As an industry, it is key to focus on attracting more women in technical areas and creating role models. This will certainly help us improve diversity in the long term. We also need to get better at communicating what skills are valuable for a career in fintech and the breadth of roles that are available. If we make an effort to show women that they can have a sustainable and successful career in our industry, we will achieve a more diverse and inclusive workforce.