Can artificial intelligence enable versus inhibit gender equality for the Sustainable Development Goals? What scientists know so far

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and is vital for the sustainable development of our world. However, progress toward it is disappointingly slow. The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) has important implications and holds promise to reduce gender inequality. However, although numerous studies have offered insights about the different impacts of various types of AI in many domains, we still lack a systematic understanding of AI’s impacts on gender equality. Based on United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, we systematically review current research and find that AI acts as an enabler (54%) and as an inhibitor (57%) of gender equality via three main mechanisms, respectively (including 13 vs. 6 specific mechanisms, respectively). That is, AI could positively (vs. negatively) influence gender equality through: (1) reducing (vs. perpetuating) gender stereotypes by optimizing current algorithms and products, services, and practices (vs. by biased designs and datasets); (2) providing gender equality (vs. gender biased) information; and (3) replacing women (vs. aggravating unfriendliness toward women) in unfriendly conditions. That is, AI is a mixed blessing: while we can use it to enable gender equality, we should be very cautious about its role in inhibiting gender equality. Based on our review, we identify several directions for future research to provide a more integrative picture of AI’s impacts on gender equality. In practice, governments and institutions need to audit and guide the development and application of AI to promote gender equality.