AI and Gender Equality

Artificial intelligence offers an opportunity to shape digital transformation in ways that benefit society as a whole. However, this potential remains largely unrealised. As AI systems are embedded in social structures, they perpetuate existing biases and exacerbate social inequalities. Women are particularly affected. AI systems learn from historical data, which often under-represents or portrays women in a biased way. This has tangible consequences when algorithms in fields such as recruitment or credit lending, for example, make decisions based on this biased data. Women are also severely under-represented within the AI sector itself, despite the fact that it is there that decisions are made on the issues and perspectives that inform technical solutions. Furthermore, women are less likely to use AI tools and have less confidence in their use, which puts them at risk of being structurally disadvantaged in an increasingly AI-driven working environment. Finally, AI is also used as a tool for digital violence. Countless sexualised deepfakes are generated every day, disproportionately affecting women.

Although findings on the causes, impacts and effective countermeasures are available, they are fragmented and have not yet been compiled systematically. The AI & Gender Equality research project is creating an evidence-based knowledge base on this topic. The project identifies potential research gaps and evaluates claims regarding the effectiveness of existing policy interventions.