We need more women in AI
How the gender gap in AI impacts our future and what we can do about it
The title of this article is pretty self explanatory, but let me explain. Our world needs more women in all aspects of designing, building, scaling, and communicating AI because future trends demonstrate that automation and technical outsourcing will dominate. There is a significant gender gap between women and men in the development and deployment of AI technology, which will have dire consequences unless we start increasing technical upskilling, education, and knowledge sharing programs to address that divide.
It is not looking so good out there 😬
Women comprise only 22% of AI talent globally, with even lower representation at the senior levels, with less than 14% of senior executives roles in AI are women (Interface, 2024)
This gender gap is widest among Gen Z — 71% of men ages 18-24 say they use generative AI weekly, compared with 59% of women
AI adoption for women is roughly half that of men — 20% of men reported experimenting with Gen AI or using it for projects compared to 11% of men (Deloitte, 2023)
Why does this AI knowledge gap exist? 🤔
Gender Stereotypes and Bias
Unfortunately, even in 2025, gender stereotypes often push girls away from pursuing STEM, with women comprising only 29% of the STEM workforce globally (Global Gender Gap Report, 2023). In educational and professional settings, women often face implicit biases that influence how their abilities are perceived. This can lead to fewer women being encouraged to pursue or persist in tech fields, including AI.
Predominant Male Workplace Environment
The tech industry, including AI, is still largely male-dominated. Women often report feeling marginalized or excluded from key opportunities, mentorship, or networking, which can impede their career advancement in AI.
Lack of Mentorship and Supportive Communities
The shortage of female role models and mentors in AI means that women entering the field have fewer people to guide them, provide support, or act as examples of success. Without these connections, it becomes harder to stay informed about the latest trends in AI, access career opportunities, or grow professionally in a male-dominated environment.
Societal and Structural Barriers Impeding Female Potential
Many tech companies and academic institutions lack family-friendly policies or workplace flexibility, making it harder for women to balance their professional and personal lives. And of course, who is the one expected to shoulder caregiving, childrearing, and household responsibilities? Women.
What can we do about it? 😤
We are living in a hostile cultural environment where there is greater scrutiny on “merit” and “qualifications,” dictating who deserves to have opportunities, who has the right to take up space, and who gets to have access to positions of power. But now more than ever, we need to have more equity and diverse representation in the hands of those who are building the tools and technology that will transform our world.
Here are ways we can get more women in AI:
Become a paid subscriber to Women in Tech Consulting: That’s right, shameless plug for subscribing! Change starts with you, and if you aren’t constantly learning about trends in the market, AI applications, and learning how to keep growing your career, you need to start doing that. Your future self will thank you 👇
You don’t have to be an engineer to work in AI: As a tech consultant, something I’ve learned is that there are so many different types of roles involved in the development and launching of new AI products. Yes, there are software engineers and data scientists who work on the actual deployment of the models, but more often than not, there are many people involved in its creation. QA testers, product designers, product managers, solution architects, data managers, technical writers, scrum masters, and so many more. Whether you have a technical degree or not, anyone can learn the basics of AI in online videos and courses and apply their own unique skillsets to the AI solutions they’re building!
Spend one hour of your week dedicated to learning something new about AI: One of my mentors told me that 20% of your workweek should be spent on professional development and learning, because while your employer could fire you at any time, the skills and knowledge you have will be with you forever. Even if all you can do is one hour a week, allocate time to read or watch a video.
Join your company’s women BRG (business resource group): Many companies have resources groups supporting women that often facilitate communities, events, and mentorship programs, so get involved with those to identify mentors who can advocate and guide you.
Share your AI knowledge with other women: Whether chatting with friends, family members, or work colleagues, keep sharing your knowledge and having conversations about AI with other women.