Women Hold Just 30% of Global AI Roles, UN Women Calls for Inclusive Tech Development at India AI Summit

Underrepresentation in AI Raises Concerns Over Systemic Bias​

Women account for only 30 per cent of artificial intelligence professionals worldwide and hold just 16 per cent of AI research positions, UN Women said on Tuesday, urging greater female participation in the development of AI tools to better address women’s needs across health, finance, climate resilience, and safety.

Speaking at the launch of the AI Casebook on Gender and Agriculture at the India AI Summit in New Delhi, Christine Arab, Regional Director for Asia Pacific at UN Women, said the continued underrepresentation of women in AI development is leading to systemic bias within emerging technologies.

Arab highlighted what she described as a persistent global design gap, warning that when fewer women are involved in building AI systems, fewer products reflect the realities and lived experiences of women.

“When women are missing from design tables, the test labs, the term sheets, bias does not emerge by accident. It becomes the default,” she said.

India Recognised for Addressing Gender Gap in AI​

Arab acknowledged India’s efforts in tackling the gender imbalance in artificial intelligence, noting that the country stands among the few globally taking the issue seriously.

She said that while no country has fully resolved the challenge, India’s approach is significant in a world that is still learning how to ensure equitable AI development.

“We are all as a globe still learning. And that is precisely what makes what the Government of India is doing so significant,” she added.

AI’s Impact on Women’s Employment in Asia Pacific​

Arab also raised concerns about the impact of AI on women’s livelihoods. Citing a joint analysis by UN Women and LinkedIn, she said around 80 per cent of women across Asia and the Pacific are employed in job categories that are classified as augmented or disrupted by artificial intelligence.

She emphasized that the outcome of this transformation will depend on policy decisions. With the right skilling initiatives and protective frameworks, she said, AI-driven augmentation could become a springboard for opportunity rather than a setback.

AI Casebook Showcases Scalable Solutions in Agriculture​

The AI Casebook on Gender and Agriculture features 26 deployed and scalable AI solutions aimed at improving crop planning, strengthening farm operations, expanding market access, and enhancing financial resilience for farmers.

Urging governments, policymakers, investors, and researchers to actively engage with the casebook, Arab described the featured initiatives as practical solutions rather than just narratives.

“AI must be written by all of society. Not just by the select few,” she said.