Combating Unconscious Bias with AI and Cloud Technology
The Chilean startup Theodora AI is on a mission to eliminate hidden biases in companies worldwide. Founded by lawyer María José Martabit and AI expert Ricardo Baeza-Yates, Theodora AI has developed an AI-powered platform that detects and corrects unconscious bias across industries. The company’s innovative technology has been made possible by leveraging Microsoft Azure’s robust cloud infrastructure.
The Problem of Unconscious Bias
María José Martabit, with 15 years of experience in the legal system, realized that even justice can be biased. She observed that different judges could come to varying conclusions based on the same facts. This realization sparked the creation of Theodora AI. The company’s initial goal was to mitigate potential legal action by reducing bias, but they soon discovered that bias extends far beyond the legal system, affecting human behavior, brand perception, and business performance.
How Theodora AI Uses Azure
Theodora AI relies heavily on Azure’s services to power its bias detection platform. The company uses Azure Virtual Machines to fine-tune its AI models, Azure Blob Storage to house large datasets, Azure OpenAI for natural language processing, and Azure Functions to handle event-driven workloads. Azure App Service hosts the company’s application, while Azure SQL manages user data and metadata. Azure Cognitive Services is utilized for AI tagging and content moderation.
The combination of these Azure services enables Theodora AI to process massive datasets and detect biases at scale. The company’s bias detector has identified over 100,000 biases across more than 50 organizations in 30-plus countries. By addressing unconscious bias in their communication, Theodora’s clients have seen increased engagement, improved brand trust, and stronger connections with diverse audiences.
Expanding Influence and Future Plans
Theodora AI is expanding its influence by opening offices in Paris. The company has received the prestigious Trophee Startup 2024 award, which promotes Chilean science and technology-based products with international growth potential. Theodora AI plans to continue developing its technology, including an anti-bias SaaS tool that will allow clients to evaluate their own bias levels.
The company is also working on innovative projects, such as an art competition that encourages artists to create original art ethically integrating AI. This project is expected to receive over a million submissions, further demonstrating Theodora AI’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI and cloud technology.
Conclusion
Theodora AI’s work in combating unconscious bias is making a significant impact globally. By leveraging Azure’s cloud infrastructure, the company has been able to scale its operations and achieve remarkable results. As Theodora AI continues to grow and expand its influence, its innovative use of AI and cloud technology is set to drive positive change across industries.
