While companies around the world are rapidly integrating generative artificial intelligence to increase productivity, data suggests that women, for various reasons, remain on the margins of this transformation. The survey, conducted in late February on a sample of more than 4,000 employees across the US, reveals that men are disproportionately more inclined to experiment with and rely on AI to perform everyday tasks.
Key findings show that as many as 45% of men surveyed said they regularly use AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Copilot or specialized software) in their work, compared to just 29% of women.
Men are also significantly more optimistic about the impact of AI on their careers. Over 50% of them believe that AI will help them advance or earn more, while this attitude is shared by a significantly smaller percentage of women, who more often express concern about the potential loss of their job (the so-called AI anxiety).
Where is the root of the problem?
Experts who analyzed the report point to several factors that contribute to this gap. The first is the historical underrepresentation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) occupations, where early adoption of new technologies is the norm. Another factor lies in the very nature of “invisible work”.
Zanina Avery, an analyst from SurveyMonkey, points out: “Women often take on a disproportionate share of administrative and organizational tasks at work (the so-called office housework), leaving them less time to proactively learn and experiment with new tools. On the other hand, male colleagues are more likely to adopt these tools quickly to automate those very tasks.”
The risk of deepening economic inequality
This gender gap in AI literacy is not just a matter of technological prestige; it is a first-rate economic issue. Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a key skill for getting ahead, negotiating salary and surviving in the job market.
If women continue to lag behind in adopting these tools, experts warn that in the next decade, we could see the reversal of hard-won progress in reducing the gender pay gap. Instead of AI being the “great equalizer,” it could become a mechanism that rewards early adopters – who, according to current data, are predominantly men, writes CNBC.