AI Threatens to Intensify the Erasure of Women

AI: A Threat to Gender Equality

As International Women's Day approaches, an insidious threat looms: artificial intelligence could exacerbate gender inequalities. Far from merely promising a technological revolution, AI is already profoundly reshaping organizational structures. From content creation to human resources management, every aspect of business is affected. Behind the enthusiasm for these new technologies lies a growing danger: the risk of reinforcing the downgrading of predominantly female professions.

This threat is based on several blind spots often overlooked in discussions about AI and its real impacts.

Insufficient Female Representation in AI

One of the major issues is the low representation of women in the AI sector. Globally, only 22% of AI professionals are women, and this figure drops to less than 14% for leadership positions. This underrepresentation directly influences technical decisions, such as data selection or performance metrics. As a result, the oldest stereotypes are being automated. UNESCO recently highlighted this trend of language models confining women to domestic or sexualized roles. These biases then propagate through everyday tools, from job postings to HR summaries, perpetuating prejudices across organizations.

A Growing Divide in AI Usage

The transformation of jobs by AI does not affect everyone equally. Administrative and support roles, often held by women, are three times more exposed to AI than those of men in developed countries. These positions, often mistakenly perceived as secondary, are on the front lines facing a technological wave threatening their existence. Waiting for this social crisis to manifest would be a strategic error. Meanwhile, a gap in AI usage is widening. While traditional research tools are used equally, AI remains dominated by men for two-thirds of its usage. This gap is not due to a lack of skills, but rather a psychological barrier: many women feel a sense of impostor syndrome when using these technologies. Without strong managerial support, this reluctance could become a professional handicap, impacting promotions and the visibility of projects.

The Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility

To avoid a social disaster, companies must integrate AI into their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. The social aspect of ESG should not be limited to formal reports or superficial measures; it must protect the employability of the most vulnerable women. According to the "Hope & Fear" study, the company is the only economic actor in whom employees trust to develop their skills.

Concrete Actions for an Inclusive Future

To turn this threat into an opportunity, companies must take concrete and immediate actions. This starts with a rigorous assessment of AI usage to identify and correct disparities as they arise. Rather than allowing self-training to prevail, organizations should offer protected learning paths and short, repeated training focused on real use cases. This demand for transparency also extends to suppliers, who must demonstrate the absence of bias in their algorithms through regular audits.

Towards Strict and Inclusive Governance

Finally, establishing strict internal governance, combined with promoting diversity within Data and Security teams, is essential to secure the deployment of AI. By nature, AI does not guarantee any social progress. Only decisions regarding training and governance will determine the distribution of benefits.

In a context of demographic decline, increasing productivity is vital for Europe, but it must not come at the expense of half the population. The technological future must be inclusive, or it will only be a regression. The path is clear: document, test, and above all, support.