AI is advancing fast. Women are being left behind in the workforce and leadership.
Men hold nearly 8 in 10 artificial intelligence jobs and almost 9 in 10 senior leadership positions shaping the technology, according to a new UN Women report launched at the United Nations General Assembly.
New York, 22 September – While much of the public debate around artificial intelligence (AI) focuses on potential threats to humanity in the future, urgent consequences are already unfolding today for women and girls, which is reinforcing existing inequalities.
New evidence from UN Women shows that these inequalities are already reflected in women’s participation in the rapidly expanding AI economy – from the workforce and leadership to access to the technology itself. According to the latest Gender Snapshot 2026, women account for only around 22 per cent of artificial intelligence professionals globally and hold fewer than 14 per cent of senior leadership positions. Women are also around 20 per cent less likely than men to use generative artificial intelligence tools.
“The future of AI cannot be built by half the world's talent. As artificial intelligence reshapes economies, societies and daily life, women's equal participation is crucial to its design, governance and regulation. If women are excluded, the inequalities of today risk becoming embedded in the systems of tomorrow”, said Sarah Hendriks, Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Support at UN Women.
Artificial Intelligence also poses risks for women and girls in other areas. AI is increasing the scale, speed and severity of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, while reinforcing gender stereotypes and structural discrimination, especially for women in public life. A UN Women study showed that almost one in four incidents of online violence against women human rights defenders, activists and journalists involved the use of artificial intelligence.
Women are also more exposed to the potential disruption of generative AI in the workplace. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), occupations dominated by women are almost twice as likely to be exposed to generative AI as those dominated by men.
At the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York, UN Women is calling on governments, development partners and technology companies to strengthen safeguards and regulation of artificial intelligence, ensure women’s equal participation in AI development and decision-making, and address the risks that these technologies pose to women and girls.
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The women’s leadership gap that we should all be talking about
The data shows that when women lead, entire communities benefit. But while women make up half the population, they hold just a fraction of decision-making power.
Why is that? And what can be done to overcome these barriers? Dive into this explainer on this year’s Gender Snapshot to learn how – and why – to support women’s leadership.
