Since late 2022, the world seems to have witnessed the advent of generative AI. Some have likened its transformative potential to that of the Internet or even electricity. One aspect of it is said to be its capacity to complement human workers. It’s been argued that it could act as a copilot, amplifying employees’ skills and making them more efficient and productive. On the flip side, some see AI as a potential workforce displacer, if companies employ it merely as a cost-cutting tool.
If the primary objective is to reduce expenses, this could lead to the replacement of human workers with AI, especially in repetitive and routine tasks. And at the same time, AI could inadvertently perpetuate biases when it relies on incomplete or biased datasets. So, this can lead to decisions, recommendations or predictions that are unfair or discriminatory. On the other hand, some see AI as having the ability to identify and rectify biases. It may be able to scan job postings and performance reviews, suggesting more inclusive language and improving diversity in the workplace. But, that depends on the training models and datasets for the LLM. That being said, the role of AI in the workforce is not complete without considering gender disparities.
So, are there gender disparities, when it comes to AI? According to a Charter report, there may be. Women may be less likely than men to use generative AI tools in their professional roles. Women are said to be more uncertain about how generative AI could affect their work than men. According to the report, men are more likely to be enthusiastic about AI tools and their future work that’s related to AI. On the other hand, women may be less optimistic and enthusiastic about using generative AI in their daily work.
So, this gender gap in AI adoption could raise questions about inclusivity and equal access to the benefits of AI. How could these disparities be bridged to ensure that AI advancements benefit everyone, regardless of gender? What could this mean for India, which has a growing tech industry and where there may be broader issues of gender disparities? According to the Gender Gap Report 2023, India is said to be ranked 127 out of 146 countries, when it comes to gender parity.
