The phenomenon of AI Cannibalism, technically known as Model Collapse, refers to a degenerative process that occurs when generative artificial intelligence models begin to be predominantly trained on data produced by other AIs. This feedback loop creates a "curse of recursion," where the nuances of original human information are lost, resulting in a convergence towards a simplified, homogeneous, and often hallucination-filled reality.

The industry prides itself on being fast-paced, proliferating new ideas and constantly shifting, yet it stays rooted in decades-old biases. In this piece I wanted to highlight the women whom I wasn't taught about, connect their absence in history books to present ideologies, and touch on the link between TFGBV (tech-facilitated gender-based violence), gender norms and misogyny.

This year I struggled with the idea of writing a “Happy” International Women’s Day post. Instead, I wrote a longer reflection on our website about the tension many of us are feeling right now. In it, I am interrogating the contradiction between the language of celebration that accompanies International Women’s Day and the realities many women and girls are facing globally and closer to home. I reflect on the violence against girls in Iran, the ongoing suffering of women in Gaza and Sudan, the gender based violence crisis in South Africa, and the ways new forms of harm are emerging through technology such as technology facilitated gender based violence and AI manipulation. Much of my work sits at the intersection of gender justice and digital systems, so these questions are never abstract to me. They sit inside the work I do with organisations responding to GBV, building technology systems, and trying to create safer environments for women and girls. This reflection is not an easy one. It is heavy and uncomfortable in parts, but I believe it is necessary to sit honestly with where we are. Despite everything, I still hold onto the dream I had as a young girl. A society that truly cherishes the safety and upliftment of the girl child. Because when she is safe, educated and supported, the entire community thrives. And despite the heaviness of this moment, I want to acknowledge the women who have worked with me, supported my work and are pushing boundaries in their domains. Allies, collaborators and friends in this work. I hope that together we can build something better, and that next year we might have something different to say.