Open Access Research Article
HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A CATALYST FOR SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS BY: ADV. BHUMI TANDON
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HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A CATALYST FOR SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS
AUTHORED BY: ADV. BHUMI TANDON
BBA (Marketing, LL.B (Professional )
, Pursuing LLM
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (refer to herein as AI) stands
as a transformative force with the potential
to reshape societies and economies worldwide. Amidst its multifaceted
applications, one promising avenue
lies in its ability to advance women empowerment across various domains. This research investigates the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and women empowerment,
exploring how AI technologies can be harnessed to advance gender equality and socioeconomic inclusion. Women
worldwide face multifaceted challenges, including limited access to education, economic opportunities and
decision-making roles compounded by
entrenched societal biases and structural barriers. Against this backdrop, AI
emerges as a potent tool with the potential to catalyse transformative change. Furthermore, the study scrutinize the ethical implications and
potential risks associated with AI deployment in the context of women's empowerment, emphasizing the importance of
fairness, transparency and inclusivity in AI systems.
It also examines the role of policy framework, regulatory mechanisms, and stakeholder collaborations in shaping the
ethical and equitable development and deployment of AI technologies
for women empowerment.
Keywords: AI, Women empowerment, Technology, Gender equality,
Socioeconomic Inclusion
1. Introduction
As
the world is moving toward digitization and innovative technologies, it is creating
opportunities and challenges for working women all across the globe.
Growing technology is one of the
significant factors that is helping to bridge the gender gap in workplaces.
This approach has looked for strategies and measures that compensate for women's social disadvantages.
Digital transformation provides new routes for the economic empowerment of women. It is a unique opportunity to
expand the scope of flexible work environment for both males and females.
Studies have shown that women are paid less than their male counterparts
and hold fewer senior positions in science and technology[1].
Several global organizations, including UNESCO,
are trying to promote gender
equality in the workplace. The development of a civilization can only be seen when all its participants, regardless of gender, come together and support each other for a successful
future. Women and girls are less likely than men and boys to use the internet or own a smartphone. In fact, only 54%
of women in Asia and the Pacific have digital access,
cut off from opportunities to move any digital needles
forward[2].
From corporate press conferences to
media houses and even casual group discussions, AI creeps in everywhere. It has been around for years, but the
conversation got serious after Microsoft-backed OpenAI
released ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot.
Innovative and ground-breaking, the tool holds incredible value for all industries and individuals,
with many touting it as one of humanity’s great inventions. ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) deserve such
recognition as they’re fantastic tools that enhance human capability and efficiency and
bring change to society.
The root causes are many and varied deep-rooted discriminatory social
norms; increased gender-based
violence, including online violence; and the unequal distribution of unpaid
care and domestic work. Addressing
these impediments to women realizing their full potential requires
joint and immediate attention and response.
The rapid growth of AI is swiftly
changing the world of work and business.
Embedded in this growth is its potential to create
new opportunities for gender equality. However, if not properly engaged or utilized, AI also has the capacity
to reinforce gender bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
AI is gaining a lot of attention through advancements in machine learning and the increasing use of algorithms for pattern recognition. It is used across various
fields and sectors to shape our economic, political, cultural, and social
interactions; used in areas such as approval
of bank loans, job
recruitment, medical diagnostics,
etc.[3]
The creation of intelligent computer systems that are capable of carrying
out activities that normally require
human acumen, like visual perception, natural language processing, decision- making,
and speech recognition is known as artificial intelligence (AI). This
discipline is expanding quickly.
Applications for AI are numerous
and include banking,
education, healthcare,
transportation, and more. By offering creative answers to the particular
problems that women encounter,
artificial intelligence (AI) can empower women and advance gender equality. These include AI-based tools for
women's health and safety, platforms that offer career advice and skill development, financial and business
management solutions for female entrepreneurs, and learning
and education materials for girls and women[4].
According to a report published by the World Economic Forum,
approximately 133 million new jobs
will be created by artificial intelligence by 2025[5].
Now that’s a big number, isn’t it? AI education
can empower women and open up new career opportunities. AI-based technologies are helping overcome
the gender gap in the technology industry
that many studies
show. Let’s have a look at few reasons why we need women in AI:
·
Diversity
can drive innovation and helps in solving critical problems with alternative
viewpoints.
·
Women
are considered more visionary and hence bring dissimilar perspectives.
·
It
will avoid entrenching bias and bad behaviour of AI systems.
·
Women
can make a real difference in the tech industry and minimize the gender gap.
·
Women
can significantly contribute to the talent pool of skilled professionals.
As per the World Economic Forum’s
Global Gender Gap Report 2022, women make up only 22% of the AI workforce.[6]
This
not only limits
the diversity of perspectives and experiences that are shaping
the future of AI, but also perpetuates the gender
pay gap and limits career growth. 43% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates produced in India are women which is higher than most advanced
economies. However, a lot more needs to be done on the
work front, as only 14% of
STEM jobs in India go to women.
Additionally, 81% of women in STEM
face gender bias during performance evaluations during their career.[7] Tech giants like Google and Facebook have only 10-15% AI specialists as women and this
disparity exists in research as well.
A study published
by Nesta found that only 13.83% of AI research publications are authored by women. Studies
suggest that biased
AI systems can exacerbate existing
gaps in the workforce
and even harm under-represented communities.[8]
1.2 AI empowering women in different domains
AI has
played a transformative role in empowering women across the world, enabling
them to overcome barriers, pursue their goals, and contribute more fully to
their communities and economies. Some of its instances are as follows.
1.2.1 AI
in Education
AI-powered
educational platforms have the potential to revolutionize learning by providing
personalized and adaptive experiences tailored to individual needs and learning
styles. This can be particularly beneficial for women and girls in underserved
communities who may face barriers to accessing quality education. AI can help
bridge the gap by offering interactive learning materials, virtual tutors, and
personalized feedback, thereby empowering women to acquire new skills and
knowledge and pursue their educational aspirations.
1.2.2 AI
in Employment
Gender bias
in recruitment and hiring processes remains a significant barrier to women's
economic empowerment. AI can help mitigate bias by analyzing large datasets and
identifying patterns to make more objective and merit-based decisions.
Additionally, AI-driven job matching platforms can connect women with job opportunities
that align with their skills and qualifications, increasing their access to
meaningful employment and career advancement opportunities.
1.2.3 AI
in Healthcare
Access to
healthcare is essential for women's empowerment, yet many women face barriers
to accessing quality healthcare services. AI applications in healthcare, such
as predictive analytics and telemedicine, can improve access to care by
enabling remote consultations, facilitating early detection of diseases, and
personalized treatment plans. AI-driven diagnostics can also help reduce
diagnostic errors and improve health outcomes, thereby empowering women to take
control of their health and well-being.[9]
1.2.4 AI
in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
offers women the opportunity to achieve economic independence and contribute to
economic growth and social development. AI-powered tools and platforms can
support women entrepreneurs by providing access to resources for marketing,
finance management, and customer service.[10]
AI-driven analytics can offer valuable insights into market trends, helping
women make informed decisions and grow their businesses.
1.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a Change
The growing
prominence of artificial intelligence gives hope that gender equality can be
addressed. AI systems are unbiased, relying on data-driven algorithms rather
than societal prejudices. By removing human intervention and relying on
objective data, AI can help reduce gender disparities and ensure fair
treatment. Below are a few areas we think artificial intelligence can
profoundly impact and support the cause of gender equality.
1.3.1 Recruitment
Recruitment
has been plagued by gender biases for decades in the corporate world. Men are
preferred in certain roles, especially those requiring programming and tech
skills.
Despite
their skills and experience, women are often overlooked in such roles.[11]
AI-powered systems can solve
this problem and revolutionize the recruitment processes by analyzing resumes
and applications without
preconceived notions. By focusing on skills and skills alone,
AI algorithms can identify candidates best suited for the job. This can help overcome
unconscious biases, promoting a more diverse
and gender-balanced workforce.[12]
1.3.2 Pay
Men are
paid more than women. It is an open secret, yet no one wants to address it.
Women are paid less than men in multiple roles across industries, but
artificial intelligence can solve this. AI can assist in eliminating this by
providing tools for monitoring and fair performance analysis. AI-powered
analytics can assess salary data and link it to employee performance metrics,
helping companies identify if women are paid less than men for the same role
and performance.
AI can further assess promotion rates to identify
patterns of gender discrimination. Organizations can use these data points to
take proactive steps to rectify pay disparity and create a more inclusive work environment.
1.3.3 Education
Gender inequality begins at home and
in schools. Girls are devoured with the same learning and extra-curricular
opportunities as boys. The problem stems from there to various aspects of
society, amplifying gender inequality.[13]
Combining artificial intelligence with gender equality is an excellent
solution, as AI can find ways to provide equal access to learning
opportunities, thus solving gender biases. AI-enabled platforms also have
broader benefits, as they can make education more accessible, affordable, and
personalized.
Virtual tutors and adaptive learning
systems powered by AI can cater to individual learning needs, helping girls, as well as boys,
overcome educational disadvantages.
1.3.4 Social Issues
Gender-based violence has been a
massive problem in India. Until a few years ago, media houses reported violence
and harassment against women, with many even losing their lives.
This is another area where artificial
intelligence can affect human life. AI can play a critical role in combating gender-based violence
and harassment due to its amazing data analysis abilities. Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms can
analyze data from social media platforms to detect
harassment, hate speech, and gender-based violence.[14]
This
can enable intervention and quick action to protect
victims and hold perpetrators accountable. AI can also assist in
identifying patterns and predicting potential hotspots for violence, allowing the police to allocate
resources strategically and prevent incidents before they occur.
1.3.5 Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the most
important areas where artificial intelligence can impact human life and help
support the cause of gender equality. AI is already revolutionizing the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases by accounting for gender-specific factors.
It is an underrated feature as,
historically, medical research has focused primarily on male subjects, leading to gaps in understanding
diseases and their effects on women. AI-powered systems can analyze chunks of medical data, considering gender a
critical variable. This can help
identify gender-specific symptoms, risk factors, and treatment approaches,
leading to accurate diagnoses and personalized healthcare for women.[15]
1.4 Closing Thoughts
Artificial intelligence in education,
healthcare, recruitment, and corporate life can address the issue of gender
inequality faster. However, caution is equally necessary as AI tools also
possess threats.
Tech companies must focus on avoiding
bias in AI algorithm training. LLM models are
essentially trained by humans, who, unlike machines, have gender biases.
If the training data is biased or limited,
AI systems may inadvertently reinforce
gender stereotypes and discrimination.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure diverse and representative training data
and implement rigorous testing and auditing processes to minimize
bias.
The
lack of diversity in the AI field itself also deserves attention. It is necessary
to have diverse
teams of developers, researchers, and engineers who can bring different
perspectives and experiences to the
table to build inclusive AI systems. Only by promoting diversity in the AI workforce
can the world move towards an equitable and unbiased world.
By leveraging AI technologies effectively, women can overcome barriers, access opportunities, and contribute more fully to their communities and economies. However,
it's essential to ensure that AI initiatives are developed and deployed in ways that are ethical,
inclusive, and respectful of women's rights
and dignity.
[1] Harnessing the Power of AI With Women available at:
https://onpassive.com/blog/harnessing-the-power-of- ai-with-women/ (Last
visited on February 11, 2024)
[2] Harnessing the Digital Age to Empower Women and Girls
available at: https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-
articles/harnessing-the-digital-age-to-empower-women-and-girls/ ( Last visited
on February 11, 2024)
[3] Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Gender: Bridging
the gap available at : http://southernvoice.org/artificial- intelligence-ai-gender-bridging-the-gap/ ( Last
visited on February 11, 2024)
[4] Sagar Dnyandev Patil, “Empowerment of Women Through
Education and Training in Artificial Intelligence”
IGI
Global 1-18 (2022)
[5] Artificial Intelligence: Offering ways to empower
women available at: https://aischoolofindia.com/indian-
mamas-code/artificial-intelligence-offering-ways-to-empower-women/ (Last visited
on February 11, 2024)
[6] AI and Gender Equality available
at : https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ai-and- gender- equality#:~:text=AI%20systems%20that%20are%20designed,their%20gendered%20names%20and%20voices.
( Last visited on February 11, 2024)
[7] Supra Note 6
[8] Ibid
[9] In the eye of the beholder: AI optimism and female
empowerment available at : https://mbzuai.ac.ae/news/in-
the-eye-of-the-beholder-ai-optimism-and-female-empowerment/ ( Last visited on
February 11, 2024)
[10] Ibid
[11] Artificial Intelligence Supporting
The Cause of Gender Equality available at : https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/blog/artificial-intelligence-supporting-the-cause-of-gender-equality/
(Last visited on
February 11, 2024)
[12] Ibid
[13] Supra Note 9
[14] Ibid
[15] Supra Note 11
Article Information
HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A CATALYST FOR SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS BY: ADV. BHUMI TANDON
Authors: ADV. BHUMI TANDON
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2024/02/22
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Access Open Access
- License CC 4.0
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