New Poll Shows Gender Divide in Attitudes Towards AI: Men Embrace, Women Express Concerns
A recent poll conducted by Morning Consult and Axios has highlighted a significant gender divide when it comes to attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, which involved 2,203 US adults, aimed to understand how different demographics in America feel about AI. The findings suggest that men are more comfortable embracing AI than women are.
One of the key disparities revealed in the poll was around the regulation of AI. Forty-four percent of women surveyed stated that they believe it is impossible to regulate the technology, in contrast to only 23% of men who shared this sentiment.
The gender gap widens even further when it comes to parenting and AI usage. The survey found that while 31% of men would allow their children to use AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT for any purpose, only 4% of women were open to the idea. Shockingly, 53% of women stated that they would ban their children from using AI altogether, compared to 26% of men.
One possible explanation for this gender discrepancy is the fact that the initial users of AI are predominantly men under the age of 35, according to Jordan Marlatt, a tech analyst at Morning Consult. Marlatt explained that early tech adopters, who are more likely to be men and millennials, tend to have a more positive outlook on AI due to their higher interest and prior usage of AI applications.
These findings contribute to a growing body of research indicating that the AI revolution will impact men and women differently. A study by the International Labour Organization in August revealed that women are more likely to hold jobs that have the potential to be automated. Furthermore, a report published by the Pew Research Center in July found that a larger proportion of women have roles that could be replaced or assisted by AI.
The gender gap also extends to the AI industry itself. AI startups in the UK founded by women have raised six times less funding than those founded by men over the past decade. This disparity highlights the urgent need for equal representation and opportunities for women and marginalized groups in tech entrepreneurship and the venture capital ecosystem.
Despite these challenges, some women are finding ways to capitalize on the AI hype. Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangorra, the founder of consulting firm Omni Business Intelligence Solutions, revealed that using ChatGPT to automate aspects of her job helped her secure $128,000 worth of new contracts in just three months. Nicole Cueto, a public relations consultant, shared that ChatGPT has significantly reduced her research time and supported her side hustle.
The gender gap in attitudes towards AI highlights the importance of fostering inclusive discussions and promoting equal opportunities in technological advancements. As AI continues to shape our future, it is crucial to address these disparities and ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, have a voice and are involved in the development and application of AI technologies.
In conclusion, the survey conducted by Morning Consult and Axios sheds light on the gender divide in approaches to AI, with men tending to embrace the technology more readily than women. The implications of this divide extend beyond personal preferences, impacting job prospects, funding opportunities, and society as a whole. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the AI industry is essential to harness the full potential of this transformative technology.
