AI’s Threat to Gender Equality In the Workplace Is Greater Than We Think

Imagine a machine with the cognitive abilities typically associated with human minds and the ability to revolutionize how we live and work. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well, it’s also now our reality, thanks to the recent rise of accessible AI systems. In fact, one of the most famous AI systems, ChatGPT, has seen an incredible surge in popularity; just two months after launching in November 2022, the number of active monthly ChatGPT users skyrocketed to a staggering 100 million. It’s clear that AI is growing increasingly important in our lives — but it is also cause for concern, especially when it comes to gender equality in the workplace.

Take AI’s threat to the workforce. Some experts predict that the rise of AI will replace human workers with automated systems and could widen wealth inequality. In 2020, the World Economic Forum estimated that AI will replace a staggering 85 million jobs by 2025. What’s more, the jobs most at risk of being replaced are predominantly held by women. Take, for example, customer service representatives, receptionists, bookkeepers, proofreaders, and retail workers. In 2021, a whopping 69.5% of customer service representative jobs in the U.S. were held by women, and in 2022, a staggering 91.6% of receptionists were women. The Statista Research Department’s latest findings reveal that women comprise 60% of accountants and auditors in the United States, and 66.8% of copy editors and proofreaders are women, as reported by career experts.

So, what can we do about this potential gendered impact of AI on the workforce? The World Economic Forum offers a glimmer of hope, projecting the creation of 97 million jobs in emerging sectors that may be safer from AI encroachment, such as data analytics, software development, and information security. The catch? Many of these roles require extensive knowledge of coding and related skills, an area where women globally face significant disadvantages. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in 2020, only 19% of women in the least developed countries were using the internet, compared to 62% of all men globally — let alone have coding skills.

Governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society organizations (CSOs) need to take action to bridge this digital divide and empower women. They should launch comprehensive training and educational initiatives specifically designed for women in these sectors. By equipping them with the necessary skills, we can transform a potentially disastrous job displacement scenario into an opportunity for personal and professional growth and create a world where women not only adapt to the AI revolution but thrive in it, armed with the knowledge and abilities needed for future jobs.