Automation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) will have a disproportionate impact on jobs held by women, according to a report by UNESCO and the International Monetary Fund. As technology advances, concerns are being raised about the widening gender gap.
A prominent example is Grace, a robot nurse developed by Hanson Robotics in Hong Kong, designed to care for elderly patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. While this advance in science and technology can be applauded, it also raises questions about how technology and AI can fuel gender inequality.
as you remember Expansionin 2019, the International Monetary Fund estimated that 26 million jobs held by women in 30 countries are at risk of disappearing in the next two decades due to the advent of new technologies.
According to the report, 11% of jobs held by women are in danger of automation, compared to 9% of men. Older and lower educated women will be especially affected.
The technological gap, key
The UNESCO study “The Effects of AI in the lives of Women” prepared in 2022, highlights several barriers that must be addressed. First of all, there is a technology access gap with only 48.3% of women worldwide having access to the internet compared to 55.2% of men. This is partly because women tend to be less comfortable using technology and have fewer digital skills.
Second, the study highlights the lack of participation of women in the development of AI. AI and robotics companies continue to be dominated by men in leadership positions. This is reflected in conferences and in the percentage of professors in the field of AI, where more than 80% are men.
Without policies that encourage the training of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, women will have limited access to the jobs of the future.
The third barrier highlighted in the report is the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and traditional roles assigned to womensomething that AI systems often reinforce.
To mitigate the gender gap in the workplace caused by AI, the UNESCO report proposes solutions, such as promoting the education and participation of women in STEM careers. In countries like Mexico, there are non-profit organizations, such as Tecnolochicas, Chicas en Tecnología and Epic Queen, that seek to close this gender gap for free.
In addition, it recommends taking into account the contextual and cultural complexity of AI systems in different countries and work contexts. The need for collaboration between governments, private companies, and technical communities to address these issues and take responsibility for the impact of AI tools and systems is also emphasized.