Can AI Help Us Close the Gender Gap? Time—And Our Actions—Will Tell

*Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article reflect my personal opinions and not those of CCWomen. 

When ChatGPT first entered the public space, I immediately thought, "Thanks, Sam Altman. A robot's going to take my job and conquer the world." But after seeing its limitations, my admittedly theatrical concerns dwindled to caution—at least, for now. While AI has many use cases that can positively impact us, it presents an entirely new set of challenges, specifically for women, as we continue to fight for equity on various fronts.

A tool is only as effective as the person who uses it; we see this in action daily. Some companies seamlessly integrate AI into their systems and processes, training their employees adequately to ensure productive learning. In a rush to stay competitive, others absorb AI without much preparation or understanding of what it can do and end up having to put out otherwise preventable fires. It's happening right now, where corporations are too busy trying to one-up one another without considering their returns or consequences.

As a borderline luddite, I'm the first to admit that I haven't fully embraced AI. I question its ethics and believe it needs stricter regulations to prevent further harm to vulnerable populations and our environment. I also know that, regardless of my thoughts or beliefs, AI is likely here to stay. Similar to the internet, it has become a part of our norm, but we must navigate it wisely by educating ourselves on its risks.

AI is a double-edged sword for gender parity.

More than ever, decision-makers must now seriously consider the role that AI plays in women's careers. Will it bolster our innovation or hinder us? What measures should we take to equip ourselves for success and security?

Time will tell how AI affects women, but we have good reason to be apprehensive. Women face enough barriers as it is, from entry-level to C-suite, and progress is ongoing, but not fast enough. (As in, we won't see gender parity in our lifetime.)

One notable fear is the extent to which AI will disrupt our workforce. Fortunately, a recent Budget Lab study suggests that AI automation has had a minimal impact on our economy—but technology shifts are gradual, and their full ramifications won't be known until much later. While we're still undergoing the first few waves of AI, we must take as many preventative measures as possible to prevent deeper division. Where there’s a predictably harmful pattern, there must be even swifter action.

Tech experts suggest that AI will replace automated roles rather than augmented ones. Whereas automation replaces repetitive tasks, augmented tasks require a more human touch to solve complicated, multi-step issues, which AI can't yet achieve. Unfortunately, this risks nearly twice as many women employees who can lose their jobs in comparison to their male counterparts due to the nature of their responsibilities. If 24.1% of men have augmented roles—and are powered by AI—20.5% of women have augmented roles, presenting a significant difference in access to more future-proof roles. 

Men are in closer proximity to augmented jobs than women. Therefore, they have more opportunities to leverage AI as a tool rather than viewing it as a competitor. AI will move forward no matter what; our decisions now will determine the direction of its future. If women are barred from any stage of AI development, we'll be at higher risk for exclusion, and the gender gap will grow.

AI equity is nonnegotiable—but we don't have all the answers yet. 

Just like any new technology, AI can be both a resource and a hindrance to women. Firstly, we must remember why achieving gender parity should be the goal for all forward-thinking businesses, and what role AI plays in our ongoing mission. Despite being a constant uphill battle, it's advantageous for women and their employers, presenting numerous high-value opportunities.

A UN Women study on gender equality in the private sector states:

• Achieving gender equality can result in up to $12 trillion in revenue by 2030. 
• Companies with more gender-inclusive executives are 25% more likely to perform profitably.
• In a survey of 13,000 enterprises from 70 countries, more than half (57%) said that gender equality in leadership improved business outcomes.

Knowing this, what steps can we take to ensure that businesses benefit, women win, and AI becomes a powerful solution for our societal and economic issues? 

Be transparent about today's AI challenges. 

Uncertainty is unavoidable, making transparency all the more necessary. When people don't have the whole picture, they'll try to fill in the blanks themselves, leading to more anxiety and distrust.

If you’re a part of a company integrating AI into your platform, consider the following questions as you map out your strategy:

• Where did you source your AI training dataset? Is the data representative of a diverse demographic?
• Did your AI present any biases or inaccuracies that may compromise work quality? How do you intend to address them? 
• Who's involved in your AI development process, and what are their responsibilities?
• How does AI empower your employees or streamline customer experiences?
• How will you implement user feedback to improve your AI product?

Prioritize AI accessibility and equitable learning.

AI literacy is a fundamental skill, but it's not always accessible to all communities, creating barriers to advancement and growth. Accessibility allows everyone, regardless of background, to acquire the knowledge and education they need to stay on track in our increasingly digitized workforce.

UNESCO suggests that inclusive AI learning can look like:

• Adding women and girls to the AI value chain: The AI value chain encapsulates numerous stages of AI development, from hardware to data infrastructure to applications. When underrepresented groups are involved at every layer of the technology, there's more room for innovation and less tolerance for biases.
  
  
• Further skills development: As AI continues to evolve, its learning curve becomes equally steeper. Organizations must think of how to bridge knowledge gaps by investing in their employees, partnering with other industry allies, and creating a more cohesive educational experience that adequately upskills prospective talent.
  
  
• Human-centric approaches to AI: Whenever we create a product that's "human-centric," we put ourselves in the shoes of the intended consumer. Similarly, leaders need to think creatively about how new tech fits the needs of their people, and what assets they need to provide to maximize effective adaptation.

We don't have all the answers yet, but we do have the resources that allow us to create a kinder, more organically connected world, even amid vast technological transformation. I hope that our values help us resist the temptation of convenience—and that we commit to co-writing a future that encompasses diverse voices and thoughts. 

As always, community is the key to our survival and thriving. May we not leave people at the wayside in the name of progress, and may we make all the difficult, but wise decisions today to steward an ethical and empowering tech solution tomorrow.

Want to join the conversation on AI and future-proofing careers? The CCWomen+ table is open.