You know what worries me about the artificial intelligence revolution? That we're repeating the same old mistakes. And I say this while reading the results of a study showing how women adopt generative AI tools like ChatGPT, the most well-known, at a significantly slower rate than men.
To compare how women and men use generative AI tools, Harvard researchers analyzed eighteen studies involving more than 140,000 workers and university students from countries including the United States, Sweden, Mexico, China, and Morocco. Specifically, the results showed that women adopt AI tools 25% less than men, on average.
The problem isn't just technological availability, but deeper factors related to social perception and cultural barriers. Research suggests that many women avoid using these tools for fear of being judged as "cheaters" or having their professional competence questioned. This fear isn't unfounded, given that women often face obstacles in demonstrating their expertise in many professional fields. The fear that using AI will be perceived as a lack of their own capabilities reflects the double standards women face in the professional world.
If this gap persists, the consequences could be problematic for workplace equality, the researchers reflect. Women who don't adopt these productivity tools could fall behind in developing essential digital skills. This would further widen the wage gap and limit their opportunities for career advancement.
But the problem goes beyond individual impact. If women don't actively participate in the evolution of AI, these systems will be developed with a biased perspective, potentially reinforcing gender stereotypes and ignoring the specific needs of half the population. Generative AI improves as it acquires new information—that is, as we use it.
The solution lies not only in ensuring equal access to technology, but also in creating psychologically safe work environments where experimentation with AI is not only accepted but actively encouraged for all. It is necessary to take a proactive role, offering specific training and normalizing the use of these tools.
A broader cultural shift is also needed to challenge stereotypes about competence and technological dependence. In a world where I imagine AI will be ubiquitous, the ability to use it effectively should not be seen as a weakness, but as a fundamental skill.
The gender digital divide in AI isn't inevitable. With the right policies and a real commitment to equality, we can ensure that the benefits of the technological revolution reach everyone equally. Because, in the end, if AI learns mostly from men, it won't be that smart, right?
