'Stem Generation,' Gender Gap in AI, 70% of Programmers Are Men

The community 'GenS - Generazione Stem,' comprised of young women passionate about scientific subjects, is sounding the alarm about the stark gender disparity in the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence. Following their outreach efforts in schools and festivals with presentations on overlooked female scientists, GenS is now focusing on the urgent need to bridge the gender gap in AI software development. They point to a concerning statistic: 70% of AI software developers are men, a figure that directly impacts the biases embedded within AI systems. Alessandra Cravetto, founder of GenS, shared with ANSA that only 30% of women are involved in designing language models and chatbots. This underrepresentation not only limits the diversity of perspectives in AI development but also places women at a higher risk of job loss as AI automates roles traditionally held by women, such as secretarial and administrative positions. GenS aims to be proactive, promoting AI as a tool rather than a threat to women by dismantling stereotypes that discourage women from pursuing STEM careers. The low percentage of female STEM graduates in Italy—18% compared to Europe's 26%—is a critical issue that GenS is actively addressing through educational outreach and by sharing the stories of pioneering female scientists. This initiative is particularly vital in Italy, where historical and societal factors have often sidelined women in science. GenS's work, including theatrical formats that bring the stories of scientists like Ada Byron Lovelace and Fatima al-Fihri to life, seeks to inspire more young girls to engage with scientific disciplines, offering guidance and fostering a more inclusive future for technology.

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Il 70% degli sviluppatori di software per l'IA sono uomini, attesta l'ultima indagine dell'Organizzazione internazionale del lavoro