A new study shows that women view artificial intelligence as more threatening than men, especially when the economic gains are not clear, making them less supportive of adopting these technologies faster. The researchers explained that this difference is not just about knowledge, but also about unequal exposure to economic risks and a general tendency to avoid risk, with women more likely to hold managerial and service jobs that may be affected by automation, while men dominate higher-paying jobs in science and technology.
The study warns that ignoring these gender concerns in AI policies may increase inequality and lead to negative policy and regulatory backlash. She points out that incorporating differences in risks and opportunities into AI governance is a necessary step to ensure fairness and enhance trust in digital transformation.
The results show that women’s support for adopting AI depends largely on the clarity of the economic benefits, and decreases when the risks to jobs increase, while the gender difference decreases if the gains are guaranteed. The study confirms that attitudes toward technology are related to economic and employment status, and are not simply a “personal bias toward technology.”
