Stopping gender discrimination at the AI source
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An Australian AI expert has warned the United Nations of the critical need for women to engage with technology or risk enduring further gender discrimination as a result.
Dr Nici Sweaney is a globally recognised leader in ethical AI, with nearly two decades of experience as an academic scientist and data strategist.
The founder of AI Her Way earlier this month addressed a Canberra Women in Media event on the future of democracy following her UN speech.
She said women urgently needed to engage with AI or get left behind.
“AI promises to uplift humanity and create extraordinary opportunities. Yet women—particularly women in developing nations—are being systematically excluded and stand to be dangerously left behind.”
Dr Sweaney outlined five critical barriers:
- Currently, women are not building AI
Globally, women represent less than 30 per cent of the AI workforce, excluding them from designing the very systems shaping our future. - The data is biased against women
AI is trained on historical data scraped from the internet—data that reflects the inequities of the past, not the aspirations of the future we hope to live in. - Women don’t have equal access to AI
In the world’s least developed countries, men are 52 per cenr more likely to have internet access than women. But even in nations like my home country Australia, men are twice as likely to use generative AI tools as women, gaining a disproportionate advantage. - Women’s jobs are at greater risk
Nearly 80 per cent of working women are in roles at high risk of automation, compared to only 58 per cent of men. In many developing nations, where women dominate industries like textiles, agriculture, and administrative support, the threat of displacement is immediate and severe - AI models are moving further away from women
As AI evolves through user interactions, predominantly male input pushes these models further from women’s concerns, experiences, and perspectives.
“This is not just a women’s issue—it’s a societal issue,” she said.
“Developing nations, women, and marginalised communities cannot afford to be left behind—nor can the world afford to leave them out.”
Dr Sweaney asked the international community take three key actions:
- To build ethical AI literacy
We must empower people to question, critique, and shape AI. By integrating ethical AI literacy into schools, workplaces, and communities, we can foster informed decision-making and accountability.
2. Foster gender equity in AI
We must break down systemic barriers excluding women from AI creation and leadership through targeted training programs, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive policies.
3. Ensure adaptive, inclusive governance
AI moves too quickly for rigid regulation. We need governance frameworks that balance innovation with oversight, ensuring equity and sustainability while fostering progress.
“This is not a moment to observe from the sidelines. It’s a moment for bold, intentional action,” she said.
“Data sovereignty is not just about who owns the data—it’s about ensuring every community, every nation, and every person can navigate this era with informed, empowered choices.”
