A recent report indicates that women's engagement with generative AI tools is significantly lower than that of men. According to the World Economic Forum, 59% of male employees use generative AI at least once a week, compared to only 51% of women. Among young people, the usage rate among males aged 18 to 25 is 71%, while for women, it is only 59%. This 12-percentage-point gap is indeed concerning.
Image source note: The image was generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney.
In the long term, this trend is unsettling. According to a study by Oxford Economics and Cognizant, by 2032, 90% of jobs will be affected by generative AI. More specifically, it is expected that between 2023 and 2032, the proportion of jobs highly impacted by AI will surge from 8% to 52%. This means that the challenges faced by women are significant, especially in the workplace, where 80% of female workers are in jobs related to automation, compared to only 58% of men. This makes it likely that women who do not acquire AI skills will fall behind men who can use AI proficiently in the workplace.
Another concerning phenomenon is that women's participation in AI-related skill training is far lower than that of men. A training expert from Coursera pointed out that the number of men enrolling in the most popular AI courses is three times that of women. Meanwhile, Cognizant's survey shows that women are less aware of the benefits of AI, for example, only 40% of women believe that generative AI can help them enhance their skills, compared to 51% of men.
In important areas of career development, women's representation is also insufficient. According to a study from Quebec, Canada, in 2021, only 19% of the 45,000 positions in the digital intelligence field were held by women. Additionally, women are severely underrepresented in senior management positions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
However, on a positive note, the opportunities brought by AI cannot be overlooked. Women's future careers may be influenced by AI, but if they can establish themselves in these fields, they will have excellent career development opportunities. Women can bring unique perspectives and ideas to these male-dominated areas, promoting inclusive technological development. As one professor said, reaching 30% or 50% female representation does not mean all issues are resolved; the well-being and leadership advancement of women in the workplace still require effort.
Key Points:
🌐 59% of male employees use AI at least once a week, compared to only 51% of women.
💼 By 2032, it is expected that 90% of jobs will be affected by AI, with women facing greater challenges.
📊 Only 19% of digital intelligence positions are held by women, indicating a critical need for increased female participation in the AI field.