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
AI benefits will reach me
58%
47%
+11pp
AI could make better decisions than govt
43%
35%
+8pp
Future quality of life will improve
70%
62%
+8pp
Trust AI chatbot to act in my interest
59%
53%
+6pp
AI has made my daily life better
76%
71%
+5pp
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Male (533)
Female (520)
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
Leisure time
55%
65%
+10pp
Meaningful work
36%
44%
+8pp
Education
68%
75%
+7pp
Food & water
39%
46%
+7pp
Safety
42%
49%
+7pp
Governance
28%
35%
+7pp
Healthcare
72%
78%
+6pp
Social support
43%
48%
+5pp
Environment
34%
39%
+5pp
Housing & infrastructure
50%
54%
+4pp
Community
30%
34%
+4pp
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Male (515)
Female (508)
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 (B5)
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 (B4) →
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 (B5)
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 (B4) →
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)