Marissa Mayer: I’m Not a Feminist, Nor Neurodivergent. I’m a Software Girl.
She was the twentieth to join Google, then became the director of Yahoo, and now she is the CEO of Sunshine. For Mayer, her passion for technology outweighs her gender.
Marissa Mayer, former Google engineer and CEO of Yahoo, has worked in the field of artificial intelligence for 25 years. Instead of viewing AI as a potential world destroyer, she describes it as the sun, a vital and generous entity. Her new startup, Sunshine, focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into aspects of family and social life, including photo sharing, contact management, and event planning.
During a conversation with Mayer in the vibrant offices of Sunshine in Palo Alto, her enthusiasm for technology was infectious. However, I was surprised to hear her rejection of the feminist ideas she had previously expressed, a viewpoint that has isolated her in Silicon Valley's liberal environment. Mayer explained that since her youth, she did not identify with a feminism she considered "militant" and "shrill," emphasizing that her focus is more on merit and knowledge.
Despite her controversial opinions, Mayer made a positive impression while presenting her concept of Sunshine. Its main application, Shine, launched in March, has received mixed reviews, but Mayer defends it as a useful tool, especially for the growing elderly population. Her optimistic approach towards technology reflects a nostalgia for the exciting beginnings of the Internet, and her belief in the potential of artificial intelligence is unwavering.
The name "Sunshine" holds personal significance for Mayer, who chose it during her time at Stanford while naming her hard drive. Reflecting on her optimistic outlook, she mentioned how her experience in the startup environment has led her to trust in the common sense of most people online.
Mayer shares her vision of how artificial intelligence can enhance daily life by making event organization and contact management easier. The Shine app, for example, utilizes advanced facial recognition capabilities to select the best photos from family events, relieving users of that task.
Throughout the conversation, Mayer appeared confident in her expertise and her ability to navigate the tech world, though she acknowledged areas where she lacks as much knowledge, such as cryptocurrencies. She also expressed intrigue about emerging technologies like carbon nanotubes.
While distancing herself from the term "feminist," Mayer emphasizes her support for the promotion of women in technology, acknowledging her own path in a field where women are the minority. In conclusion, her focus on innovation and her passion for technology are evident, and her story illustrates how curiosity and passion can drive success in the world of tech entrepreneurship.
