AI isn't gender-neutral and we need to talk about it

We keep being told AI is the future of work. What we're not being told is that future isn't unfolding equally for everyone.

New research just revealed something alarming. Women are three times more likely than men to lose their jobs to AI.

Three times. That's not a small gap. That's a warning.

The roles most affected? Admin support, coordination, customer service, data entry...These are often the roles where women are overrepresented. These jobs will soon be seen as "low-value" simply because AI can do them faster. But faster doesn't mean better, and automating those roles without a plan for people means widening the inequality that already exists.

It's not that women aren't capable of using AI. It's that the system wasn't built with them in mind.

That's where intentional leadership, and intentional learning, comes in.

How leaders can respond with purpose

If you lead people, you have influence. You shape how AI is introduced, who gets access to training, and how jobs are reimagined.

Here's how to lead the shift, not just watch it happen:

• Start with visibility. Before automating a task or rolling out a new tool, ask: Who will this impact the most? If the answer is "mostly women" you're not just dealing with a technology change, you're managing an equity risk. Be mindful of that.

• Put learning at the centre. Upskilling isn't optional. It's leadership in action. Make sure your teams, especially those in admin-heavy roles, have real, practical ways to learn AI. Not just access to courses, but time to learn, support to try, and confidence to experiment.

• Redesign jobs, don't just remove them. What if your admin support becomes the team's AI coordinator? What if your front-line team learns to prompt better than any consultant? The opportunities are there, but only if we build them in.

• Rethink what skills matter. Let's stop acting like only the most technical roles are valuable. Empathy, communication, creativity - these are human strengths AI can't touch. Let's design roles that value them properly.

What Paadia Technology is doing about it

At Paadia Technology, we have a strong focus on supporting women to bridge the skills gap and build confidence with AI.

We run beginner-friendly AI workshops, tailored to women who are curious but unsure where to start. We teach real-world tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, demystify AI language, and show how AI can be used at home, in community roles and in the workplace.

Our focus is on making AI accessible, not intimidating. On giving women the skills to step into AI conversations, not feel left out of them.

We've seen firsthand how powerful it is when someone realises, "I can do this." And we believe more women should get the chance to feel that way.

The future of work doesn't have to mean fewer jobs for women. But unless we actively build equity into our AI plans, that's exactly what will happen.

This moment calls for more than just awareness. It calls for action in how we lead, how we train, and how we support the people most at risk of being left behind.

If you want to bring inclusive, practical AI education to your workplace or community, we'd love to help.