Artificial intelligence – or AI – is rapidly becoming an essential part of offices and companies around the world. From customer service to content writing, coding, data analysis, and scheduling, a variety of tasks are now being accomplished more quickly and efficiently with the help of AI tools. Companies are also investing heavily in AI to reduce their operational expenses and increase the speed of work. However, amidst this trend, a new study has raised an important question. According to the report, the impact of AI may not be the same on all employees; In particular, women’s jobs may be more at risk than men’s.
Which jobs are most at risk?
According to a report by the US organization, ‘National Partnership for Women and Families’, a large part of the female employees are engaged in jobs which can be easily automated by AI. The report notes that while women make up about 47 percent of the total workforce in the US, they account for about 83 percent of the 15 job categories most impacted by AI. These categories include roles such as secretary, office clerk, receptionist, and insurance agent. These positions often require repetitive administrative tasks — tasks that generative AI can now perform much more quickly and cost-effectively.
Why is concern increasing?
According to the study, in sectors where the number of female employees is high, there is a higher risk of job loss or change due to AI. Additionally, many employees may not have the resources needed to learn new skills or adapt quickly to changes in technology. However, the report also notes that in sectors such as nursing, child care and home patient care, jobs are less likely to be lost completely due to AI in the near future. That’s because these professions require emotional understanding and human-centered care — qualities that machines can’t fully mimic. Nevertheless, the use of AI-based monitoring and surveillance systems is increasing in these sectors as well.
Gender discrimination may also occur in AI systems
The report also draws attention to another important issue. According to the study, AI systems themselves may be victims of gender discrimination — or may promote it. The report emphasizes that women are underrepresented in AI development and leadership roles in the industry. This could have an impact on how AI tools are designed and used in workplaces. In one case, AI was used to generate resumes that included the names of both men and women. A later evaluation found that resumes from male candidates consistently received higher ratings. This has led to concerns that AI systems may inadvertently reinforce existing social biases.
Are women being judged more harshly when using AI?
The study also found that when women use AI tools in their professional work, they are likely to be viewed more critically than men. In one experiment, participants were shown identical work samples; However, some were labeled “AI-assisted,” while others were shown as “without AI.” When participants thought a woman had received help from AI, her abilities were viewed significantly more negatively.
Deepfakes and the growing threat of online abuse
The report also raises concerns about AI-generated deepfakes and fake content, which specifically target women. Using AI to manipulate images, video, and audio—which can spread misinformation—is becoming easier. Although the study focused primarily on the US workforce, given the rapid adoption of AI, its effects are likely to be seen in other parts of the world as well.
