🎊 AI Spotlight: Lori McDaniel 🎊

We’re excited to present Lori McDaniel, Trainer & Coach at Rainbow Bridges Consulting as this week’s AI Spotlight. 

Let’s dive into our interview with Lori and see how she is using AI.

1. Share your AI origin story

My love affair with AI started long before AI itself became cool. Growing up, I was that kid – the one who always had her nose buried in a book, mostly sci-fi and fantasy. My teenage years were spent wandering the deserts of Dune and contemplating the human condition through the lens of Stranger in a Strange Land. To me, the idea of artificial intelligence was as natural as sandworms and Martian water rituals. I was endlessly curious about how technology, science and mysticism could transform humanity. Fast forward to my career in technology, which has spanned two decades (but who’s counting?). Back in the day, I was wrangling SQL databases and using reporting tools that, let’s be honest, felt like pulling teeth at the time. Generative AI wasn’t even a twinkle in the industry’s eye yet (not widely anyway), but those data analytics tools were my first taste of what it meant to harness data for insight. To this day, I still think PowerBI is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I mean, for YEARS we couldn’t do half the stuff it can do now. Then along came Generative AI, and my brain basically exploded. Are you kidding me? We can do what now? Reasoning models, text generation, creative ideation, ART – it’s like the sci-fi stories of my childhood stepped right off the page and into my career. These past two years have been a wild ride of learning, experimenting, and – if I’m honest – geeking out over the new capabilities. From creating new training courses to planning my garden (seriously, I use it for that), I’m having fun with all the possibilities. Not to mention all the social good that's going to emerge in areas like climate, food security, energy, all the things.

2. What three AI tools have been most game changing for you? 

ChatGPT, Copilot, DALL-E

3. If you were just starting your AI journey today where would you start? 

If I were starting my AI journey today, I’d begin by finding a solid AI basics class that lays out the whole landscape – the difference between generative AI, machine learning, neural networks and all the other buzzwords. You have to understand the map before you can navigate it, right? From there, I’d pick a lane that’s meaningful to me – whether that’s career advancement, hobbies, artistic expression or even just pure curiosity. Then I’d just go for it! Take classes, watch videos, try things out and absolutely find your nerd tribe.

Trust me, it’s way more fun to nerd out together, and you’ll find people out there who are just as interested in it as you are.

Plus, learning alongside others makes the whole process feel a lot less intimidating.One thing I’ve learned is that you can seriously upskill faster than you think – it’s like falling down a rabbit hole, but instead of wondering how you got there, you’re happy with how much you’ve picked up.

he future’s going to be a much smoother ride for those who get used to learning new skills as a way of life. Honestly, if you want to stay relevant in your career (and keep making the money you want), getting skilled in AI right now is non-negotiable. I firmly believe 2025 will be a turning point where there’s a clear divide between people thriving in the job market and those who aren’t – and it’s going to come down more and more to who embraced AI skills and who didn’t. Don’t be the one playing catch-up – jump in now and future-you will thank you!

4. Share the spotlight: Name 3+ women leading in AI we should all follow. 

I'm still discovering who's out there, but I really love what N. Liberty White, Anne Murphy and Kimberly Offord are doing. And of course Jenny Kay Pollock and Reut Lazo of WomenxAI!

5. As a woman in AI, what do you want our allies to know? 

As a woman in AI, I want our allies to know that the biases we see in the real world—both conscious and unconscious—are not only present in AI datasets but are being baked into the ways AI is evolving. These biases don’t just show up out of nowhere; they’re a reflection of our collective histories, choices and perspectives. And that’s why it’s so important for us to stay vigilant and proactive. I’d like to extend an open invitation to our allies to join us in this work. It’s not just about calling out the problems—it’s about collaborating to build solutions that ensure AI’s evolution is equitable, just, and empowering for everyone.

Whether it’s being mindful about diverse data sources, questioning the impacts of algorithms or advocating for ethical standards, there’s room for all of us to shape this journey.We can’t afford to leave anyone behind as technology advances, and we definitely can’t afford to let AI mirror and amplify the inequities we’re already battling.

Let’s work together to make AI a force for good—a tool that inspires, empowers, and uplifts. Your allyship matters, and your willingness to stand with us makes all the difference.

Want to be the next in AI Spotlight? It’s a great opportunity to share your voice with our community!

Fill out the WxAI AI Spotlight Nomination Form for your chance to step into the AI Spotlight and to share your voice with the Women And AI community. Want more of WOMEN x AI's AI Spotlight? Check out our past AI Spotlight: Annie Curti.