AI impact on gender equality and professional judgment discussed in Dubai

Experts at a Dubai summit and in recent industry analysis have highlighted the complex societal and professional impacts of artificial intelligence, specifically regarding gender inequality and the evolving nature of work.

Dr. Jassim Haji, President of the International Group of Artificial Intelligence, noted a significant gender gap in the sector, where women comprise only about 22% of AI professionals and hold fewer than 14% of senior leadership roles. The data suggests women are 20% to 25% less likely to use generative AI tools in the workplace and often face a ‘competence penalty,’ where they are perceived as less trustworthy when using AI compared to men. Furthermore, AI models trained on male-centric datasets risk perpetuating systemic biases.

At the IAB MENA AI, Adtech and Me summit, Gentis Group CEO Stéphanie Reniers discussed how AI is reshaping careers in marketing, media, and AdTech. Reniers emphasized that while AI can increase speed and efficiency, human judgment, creativity, and trust must remain central to decision-making. She argued that in fields like recruitment, AI should be used to enhance capabilities rather than replacing the final human judgment regarding a person’s career.