Women in Games CEO says 'ethical AI' should augment human creativity
Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of non-profit organization Women in Games, says that "ethical AI" should augment human creativity.
The note came in response to questions on the newly released 2026 manifesto, in which the organization presents a call to action to rebalance gender representation in the game industry. It also outlines 14 reasons to empower women in the game industry.
One of the reasons argues that "AI, virtual worlds, and the metaverse will define tomorrow," and as such, "women must help shape that future, not simply play within it."
When asked about the vision behind this point, as well as what role will women play in influencing or shaping it, Isaaman said that her vision is one where these technologies are built to reflect the full diversity of the people who use them.
"That simply cannot happen if women are absent from the rooms where creative, technical, and ethical decisions are made," she continued in an email response. "Women must be involved not only as participants or consumers, but as designers, engineers, artists, leaders, and decision-makers who actively shape how these worlds function and who they serve."
As such, the CEO says that if women are excluded from the creation of AI systems, virtual economies, and immersive worlds, existing biases around representation, safety, access, and opportunity will be "hard-coded" into the future. In other words, "Inclusion is a safeguard."
When asked about Isaaman's stance on AI, a technology that has seen pushback from some corners of the industry throughout 2025, she said that the use of AI in the games industry, as in every creative and technical sector, is "not going away."
"The question is not whether AI exists, but how it is used, who controls it, and who benefits from it. I fully understand why there is pushback, particularly at a time when the industry has seen devastating job losses. Ethical AI means recognizing that technology should augment human creativity, not replace it, devalue it, or exploit it. It means transparency about how AI tools are trained, how data is sourced, and how decisions are made. It means respecting intellectual property, creative labor, and the people whose work underpins these systems."
Speaking on behalf of Women in Games as a whole, Isaaman said the organization believes AI must be developed and deployed responsibly, with "clear ethical frameworks and accountability."
"AI can be a powerful tool for augmenting creativity, accessibility, and innovation, but only if it is shaped by diverse voices and guided by human values. Protecting jobs, protecting creativity, and protecting people are not anti-technology positions. They are pro-future ones."
The manifesto, originally published in 2024, has been updated for 2026 to reflect the current state of the industry. As the site reads, Women in Games says that while awareness and engagement have grown, the scales remain unbalanced, with women still under-represented across the games workforce—particularly in leadership and decision-making roles—despite making up nearly half of all players.
"To create a fair playing field, the scales must be rebalanced—through equity, visibility, accountability, and partnership," reads the manifesto.
Women in Games says the document is a declaration of intent, while also introducing a new initiative called Women in Games Voices: The Living Guide. The guide consists of videos, podcasts, essays, and teaching tools, spanning across a decade of talks and panels.
In addition, Women in Games seeks to continue addressing key spheres of action by partnering with studios and companies to improve gender representation, mentoring, supporting networks of ambassadors and chapters, and promoting representation.
"Progress does not happen by accident—it happens when people come together with clarity, courage, and purpose," Isaaman said via a press release. "The Women in Games Manifesto is a living commitment to rebalancing the scales and ensuring that women are not only part of the future of games, but are helping to design it."
The full manifesto and mission statement are available on the official site.
