There's a gender gap: women are more pessimistic than men about AI's benefits compared to its risks
Whilst both women and men on the whole have generally positive attitudes about AI, men are consistently more optimistic across every measure in the survey (Chart 38). The gap is widest on perceived personal benefit (11 points) and narrowest on direct daily experience (5 points). As questions move from present experience to future expectation, men’s attitudes toward AI become increasingly optimistic relative to women.
The AI optimism gender gap
Men are consistently more optimistic about AI across multiple measures
Women also see significantly more risk in advanced AI scenarios. 54% of women say the risks of AI outperforming humans on valuable work outweigh the benefits, compared to 42% of men. Men are split roughly evenly, while women tilt clearly negative (Chart 39).
Who sees risk in advanced AI?
"What impact will AI outperforming humans on most valuable work have on society?"
Male
518
14%
21%
23%
19%
23%
Female
511
7%
17%
22%
27%
27%
Benefits far outweigh risks
Benefits slightly outweigh risks
Risks and benefits are equal
Risks slightly outweigh benefits
Risks far outweigh benefits
On expected AI impact on specific areas of life, men are more optimistic than women on every single domain (Chart 41).
Men expect AI to improve nearly every area of life more than women do
"How do you think AI will change these areas of life?" — % saying better, sorted by gender gap
Gender gap: what matters most vs. where AI is expected to help
Men are more optimistic about AI impact across every domain, even where women prioritize more
← What matters most
41%
46%
38%
38%
37%
33%
31%
35%
36%
30%
32%
28%
23%
32%
23%
22%
24%
23%
7%
6%
5%
5%
40
50
30
20
10
0
% selecting as a top-3 priority
Healthcare
Food & water
Meaningful work
Safety
Leisure time
Housing & infrastructure
Environment
Education
Governance
Community
Social support
Expected AI Impact→
78%
72%
46%
39%
44%
36%
49%
42%
63%
55%
54%
50%
39%
34%
75%
68%
35%
28%
34%
30%
48%
43%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% saying AI will make this "somewhat better" or "much better"
Male (515)
Female (507)
← What matters most
41%
46%
38%
38%
37%
33%
31%
35%
36%
30%
32%
28%
23%
32%
23%
22%
24%
23%
7%
6%
5%
5%
40
50
30
20
10
0
% selecting as a top-3 priority
Healthcare
Food & water
Meaningful work
Safety
Leisure time
Housing & infrastructure
Environment
Education
Governance
Community
Social support
Expected AI Impact →
31%
23%
17%
14%
18%
13%
20%
16%
25%
20%
22%
19%
14%
12%
40%
30%
10%
7%
11%
11%
18%
13%
0
10
20
30
40
50
% saying AI will make this "somewhat better" or "much better"
Male (515)
Female (507)