There has been a significant change in how Indian women see and apply artificial intelligence (AI) at the workplace in the last few years. A whopping rise in the adoption of AI among women has been seen, with 66% now considering themselves ready to use AI compared to less than 40% last year. This increase is part of an overall trend toward enhancing workplace diversity and technological use. Nevertheless, as much as the above advancements are welcome, such issues as wage inequality, deficiency in mentorship, and opportunity for limited career growth still abound.
Top Takeaways of AI Adoption by Women
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Increase in AI Confidence: The percentage of women who reported confidence in employing AI has greatly risen, portraying an increased comfort and familiarity of AI tools with the workforce.
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Workplace Diversity Enhancements: There has been a significant decline in belief that company diversity initiatives are symbolic or glacial, falling from 70% to 40% in the last year.
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Safe and Inclusive Workplaces: Almost 75% of women say their workplaces are safe and inclusive, which is vital to developing a culture of innovation and expansion.
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Persistent Challenges: Even with advances, challenges such as pay disparity, the glass ceiling, and absence of mentorship persist to stifle career growth. The percentage of women reporting unfair pay has risen by 10%, and 7 in 10 women indicate opportunities for career growth remain elusive.
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Mentorship Crisis: There is a dramatic increase in the proportion of women saying they lack robust mentorship, from 35% to 58% within the last year. This underlines a vital leadership development gap.
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Pay Gaps: Women working in tech firms and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) receive, on average, 15-20% less pay than their male peers, indicating the need for fair compensation practices.
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Prioritization of Flexibility: 76% of women prioritize flexibility in their working arrangements, focusing on the need for flexible working environments that cater to varied needs.
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Need for AI Upskilling: 29% of women look for AI upskilling opportunities, indicating a need to upgrade skills and utilize AI for career growth.
The Role of AI in Empowering Women
Technology and AI are revolutionizing the workplace by creating new avenues for women to upskill, reskill, and transition into leadership roles. Edtech solutions and AI-driven platforms are opening doors to learning, closing the industry-academia gap. They provide mentorship opportunities, hands-on experience, and training on skills, equipping women for leadership roles.
Additionally, AI is helping create fairer workplaces through the elimination of bias and facilitation of fair compensation. Automated hiring technologies using AI, such as anonymized resume screening, have decreased bias by a major extent, assessing candidates on competency rather than gender.
Future Directions
To harness the complete potential of women in technology, the existing challenges must be addressed. Companies need to invest in leadership development and mentorship programs so that women acquire skills to face cross-cultural challenges, lead innovation, and make strategic decisions. By incorporating diversity and inclusivity into all dimensions of business functions, businesses can create a fairer future in which women are empowered to contribute and lead.
In summary, although much has been achieved in AI uptake and workplace diversity, ongoing challenges need to be addressed. By emphasizing mentorship, leadership growth, and fair practices, we can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for women in technology.
Source Name: The Hans India, Economic Times, India Today.
