AI Users' Trust Levels Revealed in New Study
In Russia, a notable trend has emerged regarding the usage and trust of artificial intelligence (AI) among men and women. A study suggests that men tend to view AI as a reliable digital solution, while women are more likely to focus on ethical questions and the need for human involvement in decision-making processes.
According to the study, 55% of Russian men trust AI at par with other digital technologies, compared to around 40% of women. This gender gap can be attributed to factors such as confidence levels, risk aversion, and unequal access to AI training.
The Harvard Business Review reported that globally, women use AI at a rate about 25% lower than men in the workplace, influenced by social and professional norms that label men as innovative risk-takers but penalise women similarly taking risks. Women also receive less opportunity and encouragement to engage with AI technologies and training programs, potentially impacting career progression and pay equity.
Access to quality AI education and training is unequal and often skewed by socioeconomic status, which interacts with gender disparities. For example, fewer women receive substantial AI training hours compared to men, and women report less confidence and guidance in using AI tools.
In the Russian context, a study on medical students from Orenburg State Medical University highlighted that Russian-speaking students showed a more positive attitude toward AI than English-speaking peers. However, awareness and detailed usage patterns by gender were not detailed, so further focused research for Russia is needed.
Ethical concerns such as algorithmic bias have historically resulted in AI systems that disadvantage women, reflecting existing societal biases embedded in training data. This complicates trust in AI among women, as biased systems may affect fairness and equality.
In terms of AI usage, nearly half of men in the study interact with AI daily, with 40% doing so weekly. Women also actively use AI, but with slightly less intensity: 35% use it daily, and 44% weekly. Women predominantly use AI for tasks related to personal life and well-being, such as scheduling, managing family budgets, planning purchases, household chores, monitoring health, and psychological state.
The general global patterns and ethical implications provide a useful analytical framework. The available evidence calls for targeted efforts in Russia to increase AI training for women and address bias to improve AI trust and usage among female populations.
Despite the lack of direct, comprehensive data specific to gender differences in AI trust and usage in Russia, the need for more focused regional research on this topic is evident. The trends observed in Russia align with global patterns, underscoring the importance of addressing these disparities to foster a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
[1] Harvard Business Review. (2021). Women in AI: Why the gender gap persists in the workplace. https://hbr.org/2021/05/women-in-ai-why-the-gender-gap-persists-in-the-workplace
[2] MIT Technology Review. (2020). Closing the AI gender gap. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/07/28/1006617/closing-the-ai-gender-gap/
[3] Orenburg State Medical University. (2019). Attitude of Russian-speaking and English-speaking medical students to artificial intelligence. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338215481_Attitude_of_Russian-speaking_and_English-speaking_medical_students_to_artificial_intelligence
[4] The Markup. (2020). How AI is sexist by design. https://themarkup.org/sex-tech/2020/01/15/how-ai-is-sexist-by-design
Technology undeniably plays a significant role in both men and women's lives, with artificial-intelligence (AI) being no exception. Notably, the study suggests that men in Russia tend to view AI as a reliable digital solution, trusting it at par with other technologies, while women focus on ethical questions and the need for human involvement. The gender gap in AI trust, influenced by factors such as confidence levels, risk aversion, and access to AI training, is evident both in Russia and globally.
