Pioneering AI Innovation and Championing Women in Tech

At Prosus, the future of AI isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, inclusivity, and the impact for the future. As a global technology leader, Prosus is at the forefront of AI-driven transformation, investing in over 100 companies worldwide. Their focus? Building AI-first solutions that enhance everyday lives while ensuring responsible and inclusive innovation that truly stands to make a difference.

This year, Prosus was one of the proud sponsors of the Women in AI Benelux in collaboration with AI4ALL Gala, recognizing and celebrating the remarkable women shaping the future of AI.

We spoke with Donna McDaid, Senior Legal Counsel, and Donné Stevenson, Machine Learning Engineer, to learn more about Prosus’ AI journey, commitment to diversity, and why it is crucial to support women within AI for the industry’s future.

Unlocking an AI-First World

At Prosus, AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s at the core of how they operate as the very foundation of their business. With dedicated AI teams working across a vast portfolio spanning e-commerce, fintech, and food delivery, Prosus helps businesses harness AI’s potential for growth and innovation.

“We’ve built our AI foundations from the ground up because we recognize AI as a generation-defining opportunity.” – Donné Stevenson

Unlike many companies still in the early stages of AI adoption, Prosus has integrated AI into every aspect of its operations. From hyper-personalized online experiences to intelligent AI assistants like Toqan, Prosus ensures AI is accessible to everyone—from new recruits to board members.

“Everyone in the Prosus Group is given access to AI tools and training—enabling innovation at every level.” – Donna McDaid

Their AI-driven chatbot, Toqan, is already being used by 13,000 employees, streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency in software engineering, writing, and communication. Prosus’ ability to rapidly adopt and deploy cutting-edge AI technologies makes them a true leader in the AI-first world and a pioneer in their own right within the industry.

Empowering Women in AI

As a valued sponsor of our Gala, Prosus is committed to supporting, celebrating, and elevating women within AI. But why is this so important?

“By fostering diverse teams, including gender diversity, we naturally develop AI that serves a broader range of users.” – Donné Stevenson

According to Donné, diversity in AI isn’t just about fairness—it’s about building better, more inclusive technology. AI models trained without diverse perspectives risk reinforcing biases that limit their effectiveness. A lack of diversity in AI development can lead to algorithmic blind spots, excluding entire demographics from benefiting from AI-powered solutions.

“Promoting women in AI ensures that diverse perspectives shape technology, preventing biases from being embedded in AI systems.” – Donna McDaid

Beyond hiring more women in AI, Prosus actively creates platforms for women to showcase their talent, share ideas, and inspire future generations to pursue careers in AI and technology.

By supporting initiatives like Women in AI and AI4ALL Women, Prosus is helping to bridge the gender gap in AI, advocate for equitable representation, and foster an industry where all voices are heard.

AI for Good: Transforming Industries and Lives

Beyond corporate innovation, Prosus is using AI to drive meaningful social impact, creating technology that solves real-world challenges and creates lasting results for years to come.

One standout example is DeHaat, an agritech platform in India that leverages AI to:

Detect pests and diseases, protecting crops and increasing food security.
Improve soil health with data-driven farming techniques.
Provide predictive analytics, helping farmers plan more efficiently and sustainably.

This AI-driven solution is transforming rural agriculture, helping farmers increase their yields and adopt sustainable practices. With agriculture being the backbone of India’s economy, these AI applications are empowering small-scale farmers and improving livelihoods on a massive scale.

“One of the most impactful projects I’ve come across within our portfolio is DeHaat. Their AI innovations are driving sustainable agriculture practices in rural India.” – Donna McDaid

Prosus is also leading AI innovation internally. One of their most impactful developments is the Data Analyst Agent, a tool designed to make data more accessible across teams—no SQL expertise required.

“I’m really proud of the Data Analyst we have been developing for the last year. It gives users access to data that they can interrogate as much as they like irrespective of their SQL expertise.” – Donné Stevenson

This solution has empowered teams across departments to interact with data effortlessly, allowing them to make informed decisions faster while reducing the workload on skilled data analysts. By automating routine analytics, AI frees up experts to focus on more complex, high-value tasks, driving both efficiency and deeper insights.

Prosus continues to push the boundaries of AI to create real-world impact, making data, technology, and innovation accessible across industries and communities.

Looking Ahead: AI, Responsibility, and the Future

AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, and Prosus is dedicated to ensuring this evolution is responsible, inclusive, and beneficial to all.

So, what’s next?

Prosus continues to invest in AI research, talent development, and ethical AI practices, ensuring that technology remains fair, transparent, and sustainable. The company actively seeks partnerships with startups and innovators who share their vision of AI for good.

“AI isn’t just about innovation—it’s about responsibility. We must ensure that as AI evolves, it benefits everyone, not just a select few.” – Donna McDaid

We are honored to have Prosus as a sponsor of the Gala and Awards Ceremony, as we celebrate with great excitement the women driving AI innovation forward.

Join our AI4ALL Women community to celebrate diversity, innovation, and the future of AI!