The Gendered Impact of AI

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: Editorial: In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), a critical question emerges: Is there a link between AI being predominantly trained by men and its disproportionate impact on women’s jobs? 

This complex issue highlights systemic gender biases that span various sectors of the economy.

Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends Study reveals a troubling reality: women are more likely to hold jobs that are vulnerable to disruption by AI. 

Sectors such as administration, healthcare, education, and social services, which employ a high percentage of women, are at significant risk of job losses due to AI and automation. 

Kate Bravery, Mercer Global Advisory Solutions & Insights Leader, suggests that while women currently face more disruption from AI, the connection to the gender imbalance in AI training merits further investigation.

The gender disparity extends beyond job disruption to the adoption of AI in the workplace.

A survey by Oliver Wyman shows that 59 percent of men aged 18-65 use AI tools weekly, compared to 51 percent of women.

This gap is particularly concerning since new technologies typically see higher adoption rates among younger generations.

However, generative AI is an exception, with business executives, often older, being more informed and enthusiastic about AI’s productivity potential.

Bravery notes that when business executives champion AI, their employees are 50 percent more likely to adopt it. This likelihood rises to 70 percent when the chief human resource officer advocates for AI as the future of work.

These findings underscore the critical role of leadership in shaping AI integration and present an opportunity for HR leaders to drive inclusive AI adoption.

Gendered biases in AI also appear in self-assessment and talent intelligence platforms. Men are more likely to feel confident about jobs they’ve never performed before, creating a confidence gap that influences AI-driven hiring and promotion decisions.

Organizational psychologist Radhika Punshi emphasizes that if AI relies on self-reported skills, women, who tend to underrate their abilities, may be disadvantaged.

Ensuring balanced inputs into AI models is essential to avoid perpetuating existing inequalities.

Organizations must scrutinize their internal labor flows by gender to mitigate these biases.

Transparency in hiring, retention, and promotion rates can reveal whether women are receiving equal opportunities.

Addressing gender disparities requires a holistic approach, focusing on access to rewards, representation across all levels, and opportunities for mobility and training.

AI’s potential to enhance productivity is undeniable, but focusing solely on this aspect may cause leaders to miss broader opportunities.

AI can be a tool for redesigning work to improve well-being, making jobs more manageable and attractive.

Bravery suggests using AI-driven work design tools to deconstruct and reconstruct jobs, ensuring tasks are effectively allocated between humans and AI.

This redesign can address health and well-being issues that drain productivity and create more sustainable work environments.

As AI continues to reshape the workforce, businesses must navigate its gendered impacts with a commitment to inclusivity.

By addressing biases, promoting digital skills among women, and redesigning work to enhance well-being, organizations can harness AI’s potential while fostering an equitable workplace.

The journey toward a digitally empowered future requires concerted efforts to ensure AI benefits all employees, regardless of gender.

Integrating AI into the workplace presents both challenges and opportunities. Organizations must recognize and address the gendered impacts of AI, ensuring women are not disproportionately affected by this technological shift.

By championing inclusive practices and leveraging AI to redesign work, we can create a future where AI serves as a tool for equity and empowerment.

The time to act is now, as we shape the future of work to benefit everyone.

The writer is a freelance investigative journalist and editor of the PenPK.com.