In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an essential tool in millions of jobs, the gap in the level of acceptance and use of AI between men and women is becoming more and more obvious. Although the benefits of AI, from supporting content creation to improving work performance, are the same for both genders, many women are still hesitant to apply this technology. This not only slows down their development but also threatens to widen the gender gap in productivity, career opportunities and income. This article will analyze the underlying causes of the delay in women's access to AI and propose practical solutions to help narrow this gap in the future.

1. Numbers that cannot be ignored

Research from leading academics shows that women use AI at a lower base level than men, and this gap exists globally, regardless of rich or developing countries.

Associate Professor Rembrand Koning and colleagues at Harvard Business School conducted a comprehensive study, analyzing user data from platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude from November 2022 to May 2024. The results showed that women accounted for only about 42% of ChatGPT's average monthly users, with the corresponding figures being 42.4% for Perplexity and 31.2% for Claude. This percentage dropped to just 34.3% when analyzing data from more than 3,800 AI-integrated tools and applications from August 2022 to July 2025. These numbers reflect a clear reality: women are lagging behind in the use of prominent AI platforms, even though AI can bring them the same benefits as men.

A meta-analysis of 18 studies with a total of about 143,000 participants globally found that women using AI are about 20% less likely to have children than men. Notably, this trend is seen in both high-income countries such as the US, Canada, and Japan, as well as low- and middle-income places such as India, Brazil, and Kenya. Associate Professor Koning called this “a shocking result,” because it shows that the AI ​​adoption gap is not just a local bias but a global problem.

In the US, according to Deloitte, women are expected to be about half as likely to use generative AI as men by 2023. This gap will only narrow slightly by 2024. A study of about 18,000 workers from 11 different industries (a collaboration between the University of Chicago and Statistics Denmark) found that women are about 16% less likely to use ChatGPT at work than men, even when comparing people in the same industry and with the same responsibilities. Statistics from many sources and many countries show the same trend: women are slower to adopt AI.

2. Why are women slow to adopt AI?

There are many factors that explain why women are slower to adopt AI than men, with key reasons including: ethical and reputational factors, data concerns, lack of confidence, knowledge barriers, and systemic inequalities.

• Concerns about ethics and reputation

Several studies, including one reported by Forbes, have found that many women are hesitant to use AI for fear of being seen as unethical or “fraudulent,” especially when relying on machine-generated content. They worry that the information provided by AI may be unreliable, affecting their personal reputation and causing them to be judged unfairly.

Female leaders and founders often ask deeper questions before using AI: Will AI help build trust with customers? Will using AI affect data privacy? According to Alisa Sydow, associate professor at ESCP Business School, successful women tend to consider more factors before implementing AI, rather than just focusing on getting a product out as quickly as possible.

• Lack of knowledge and insecurity about technology

A study in the journal Economics Letters found that 50% of men had used generative AI in the past 12 months, compared to just 37% of women. This gap was not explained by demographic factors such as age, education, or income, but was largely due to differences in self-perceived knowledge and trust in the technology. Those with less knowledge were more likely to feel less competent in accessing AI, and were disproportionately female.

Several studies from Asia show that women have less access to AI technology in higher education due to factors such as culture, gender stereotypes, and lack of exposure to tools, which make them less confident in applying AI.

• Anxiety and hesitation about using AI

A psychology survey found that women experience higher levels of AI anxiety and have less positive attitudes toward the technology. They self-assess their knowledge of AI and use it less than men. This “uncertainty” about AI makes them cautious, even hesitant, when approaching new technology.

• Lack of practical knowledge in education

Research conducted with Norwegian higher education students shows that men use generative AI chatbots in a wider range of applications, while women tend to use them only for writing or support, and also express concerns that AI may undermine their ability to think independently; they need skills to assess when to use and trust AI information.

• Working conditions are not encouraging

According to data from Deloitte, women receive less encouragement and training to use AI in the workplace. For example, only about 61% of women feel their company encourages the use of AI, compared to 83% of men; only 49% of women receive training on how to use AI, compared to 79% of men. This leaves women feeling even more left behind.

3. Dangerous consequences if not acted promptly

If women continue to be slow to adopt generative AI, they could miss out on the productivity gains that have been documented in numerous studies. Anders Humlum, associate professor at the Booth School of Business, stresses that those who fail to embrace AI risk losing out in the workplace. This could lead to pay gaps, career advancement opportunities, and increased gender inequality in the workplace.

Not to mention, the lack of participation of women in the use of AI also affects the direction of AI itself. If AI is mainly used by men, the tools can replicate or exacerbate existing biases. Therefore, having both genders actively use AI will help the system become more gender-neutral.

4. Solutions to close the AI ​​gap between men and women

Faced with this worrying situation, many experts have proposed practical and urgent solutions to accelerate the gender parity process in the AI ​​field.

4.1 Business requirement: mandatory use of AI to generate

Associate Professor Koning argues that simply encouraging it is not enough; businesses can enforce the use of AI as part of their workflow. When employees use AI regularly, the system learns from more users, reducing bias and increasing inclusiveness.

4.2 Enhance training and support

Ritu Jyoti, research director of data and AI markets at International Data Corp (IDC), recommends creating comprehensive training programs: workshops, online courses, and individual mentoring to ensure that all employees have the opportunity to access and use AI proficiently. Anders Humlum agrees: practical exercises help employees, especially women, gain confidence in using ChatGPT or other AI tools at work. In addition, clear guidelines need to be developed to “normalize” the use of AI, and success stories from female employees using AI should be shared to inspire others.

4.3 Improving trust and data transparency

According to Deloitte, while women are rapidly catching up to men in terms of AI adoption, they still have lower levels of trust—only one-third of women feel confident that AI vendors will protect their data, compared to nearly 60 percent of men. This prevents them from using AI regularly or upgrading to devices that incorporate AI. Companies need to prioritize data security, process transparency, and giving users control over their data to build trust.

4.4 Modeling female roles in technology

Having more women succeeding in AI or using AI effectively will encourage others to learn and overcome the psychological barrier. Showcasing and sharing these cases as role models is an effective strategy to close the gap.

4.5 Towards gender-equal policies and structures

Recommendations from the Asia study highlight the need to develop gender-sensitive policy frameworks, ethical guidelines, and support mechanisms to remove barriers. AI in education or business must be designed in tandem with a culture of openness, equal access, and inclusion of women at the executive and policy levels.

5. Is the future equal or will it continue to be missed?

The good news is that the gap is closing. Deloitte predicts that by the end of 2025, women in the US could match or surpass men in the use of generative AI. Imagine a future where women not only catch up but lead in content creation, job performance, and innovation with AI.

Not only that, if women are fully involved in the process of contacting and using AI, the AI ​​system itself will become fairer, less biased, and more suitable to the diverse needs of society.

However, achieving this will require concerted efforts from many parties: governments, businesses, educational institutions, and women themselves. Investing in training, ensuring data security, inspiring role models, and engaging technology design will create a sustainable foundation for an equitable tech future.

6. Summary

The gender gap in AI adoption is not just a matter of personal rights, but also a global social and economic issue. While women have been slower to adopt AI than men, this gap can be narrowed if we act quickly. From requiring AI in the workplace, increasing training, demonstrating practical benefits, improving trust, to promoting female leadership in technology, every effort is needed to address this pressing issue.

Women’s use of AI not only helps them develop their careers but also helps the economy make the best use of diverse human resources. AI should not be a tool to create gaps but should become a means to overcome all barriers. Hopefully this article provides enough insight and solutions for readers to see clearly that the problem is no longer “should women use AI?” but “how can everyone use AI with confidence and efficiency” .