The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into daily life has sparked widespread debate and controversy, particularly regarding its impact on women. As of 2025, AI technologies like generative models have permeated various sectors, leading to fears about human replacement and societal bias. Yet, a significant demographic of women appears hesitant to engage with these technologies, raising questions about the underlying reasons.
Data from recent studies reveals that only 27% of downloads for the ChatGPT mobile app between 2022 and 2024 were by women, despite the fact that women represented approximately 42% of global users on ChatGPT and Perplexity platforms and just 31% of Anthropic’s total user base. This discrepancy has led to a reevaluation of the stereotype that “women don’t like tech.” Experts suggest that the issue is more nuanced and socially relevant.
A meta-analysis conducted by Harvard Business School, which reviewed 18 separate studies, found that women are 22% less likely to utilize generative AI tools in both professional and personal contexts. This trend has been consistent across various countries, sectors, and job roles, particularly among those with a higher socio-economic status who have access to digital technologies.
Anwesha Paul, a technical writer from Hyderabad, pointed out that many women’s first encounters with AI have been marred by negative portrayals, such as deepfakes and pornographic content. “Most women’s first brush with AI was news about some deepfake, or pornographic image created with AI,” she noted, emphasizing the troubling societal biases that these technologies often reflect.
High-profile incidents in India, such as a deepfake video involving actress Rashmika Mandanna in 2023, have further highlighted the potential dangers of AI for women. Mandanna expressed her concern on social media, stating, “If this happened to me when I was in school or college, I genuinely can’t imagine how could I ever tackle this.” Such controversies raise broader questions about the resources available to women for combatting digital harassment.
Amid these challenges, the tech landscape remains fraught with gendered hostilities. Studies show that AI tools frequently exhibit bias against women candidates. A study from Cornell University indicated that large language models (LLMs) often favor male candidates for higher-paying positions and are less likely to recognize female experts when generating content unless explicitly prompted to do so. For instance, these models typically generate images of women for roles like “nurse” or “secretary,” while depicting men for “manager” or “doctor” roles.
Ambika Pradhan, a research student based in Vienna, expressed alarm over how AI systems utilize vast amounts of online images to create fake content, stating, “It’s actually scary how big data is farming so many pictures online.” She noted that these technologies could be manipulated to generate pornographic material using real women’s images without their consent, presenting a significant ethical and moral dilemma.
While some scholars caution against labeling AI systems as inherently misogynistic, the reality is that these technologies reflect the biases of their creators. Gaya Hadiya, a research student from IIT Dharwad who focuses on AI ethics, explained, “To call these machines misogynistic the same way we would call a person misogynistic is misleading.” She asserted that the problematic outcomes produced by AI stem from human intentions rather than the machines themselves.
The emergence of “Dark AI,” which is designed for malicious purposes, compounds these issues. With generative AI becoming increasingly accessible, those with harmful intentions are also taking advantage of these technologies. Coupled with the rise of online communities that promote misogynistic ideologies, the environment for women in tech appears increasingly hostile.
As the landscape of AI continues to evolve, it is imperative to recognize that the biases embedded within these systems are reflections of societal attitudes. Addressing these inequalities will require concerted efforts from developers, policymakers, and society at large to ensure that the benefits of AI are equitably shared and that women’s voices are adequately represented in this rapidly changing technological landscape.
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