Dr. Barbara Oakley, Professor of Engineering at Oakland University spoke to Communicate about the gender gap in AI.
Can you tell us more about the gender-gap in terms of AI-learning, specifically when related to the GCC region?
AI is catching fire across the Middle East, with people from all walks of life jumping in. On Coursera, women make up 25% of GenAI learners in the region—an important but still evolving part of the tech landscape.
The Gulf countries are going all-in on tech. Teachers are excited, with 9 out of 10 educators in the UAE and Saudi believing AI will change how students learn and prepare for jobs. Nations like Saudi Arabia, with its Vision 2030, and the UAE, with its AI Strategy 2031, are reinforcing this commitment with significant investment.
There are still some hurdles, though. Traditional views on who belongs in tech, questions about how AI fits into various careers, and a need for more diverse success stories all contribute to the complexity. Making learning more flexible and demonstrating how AI can be applied across different fields could bring more varied talent into the mix as these continue building their digital future.
Female-empowerment seems to be a pendulum, whatever rights acquired seem to be vanishing by the minute and this even in supposedly first-world nations. Where to go from here?
Gender equality isn’t a straight path forward—it’s more like a winding road with detours, obstacles, and the occasional scenic overlook. Sure, we’ve made real progress, but systemic barriers still hold women back, particularly in fast-evolving fields like GenAI. The real game-changer? Making gender inclusivity a natural part of how institutions and economies function—not some tacked-on afterthought.
Women are often seen as the heart of family and home life. When they have access to quality education and career opportunities, they don’t just uplift themselves; they uplift their families, communities, and entire economies. A well-educated woman brings knowledge, stability, and financial security to her home, strengthening the very foundation of society.
Online learning has already proven its worth, helping women gain the skills and confidence to advance their careers, whether through promotions or increased income. The next step is ensuring these pathways lead somewhere meaningful. This isn’t just about filling quotas—it’s about making sure AI and other emerging fields benefit from a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and talents. Because when more voices are at the table, the future looks a whole lot smarter.
Everyone is talking about AI, and every day we see new-companies adapting to AI to better target consumers, but how can this be when the whole thing is gender lopsided?
Everyone's talking about AI revolutionizing business, but here's the burning question: Can AI really deliver when teams building it look nothing like the people using it? Some say absolutely not. Others point to successful AI systems worldwide created by homogeneous teams that work brilliantly. The truth? It's complicated.
A new approach to learning is cutting through the debate entirely. Platforms that prioritize accessibility and flexibility for learners, regardless of background, are making a significant impact. In MENA, where 25% of GenAI learners on Coursera are women, people are acquiring these skills without disrupting what matters in their lives. Whether you're a morning learner, a night owl, or someone who codes during lunch breaks, these learning platforms work with your schedule, not against it.
This approach is quietly reshaping who gets to create tomorrow's tech. As more diverse thinkers join the AI revolution through these flexible pathways, we're starting to see AI that just works better—not because it checks diversity boxes, but because it naturally incorporates varied perspectives that reflect actual users.
Globally, only 36% of women believe GenAI can advance their careers, compared to 45% of men, why do you think women are not too enthralled with AI, does it have to do with the types of careers they lead? Or do they have different aspirations altogether?
Is a 9% gap between men and women in AI career benefits really something to lose sleep over? Probably not. This small difference likely reflects normal variation in how different people view emerging tech, rather than some deep gender divide.
So, what might explain even this modest gap? It could be as simple as industry distribution. AI gets hyped most in tech, finance, and certain business sectors where men happen to be more prevalent. Meanwhile, in fields like education, healthcare, and creative industries—where women often lead—the AI conversation has been slower to take hold , though that's changing fast.
Different career priorities might also play a role. Some careers value efficiency gains, where AI shines immediately, while others prioritize relationship-building and nuanced judgment, where AI's benefits are less obvious at first glance.
The good news? Online learning platforms make it easy for anyone to pick up these skills during life's in-between moments. As AI tools become more visible across all industries, that small perception gap will likely disappear on its own.
Bottom line: this isn't about men "getting it" and women missing out. It's just that AI benefits become obvious at different rates across different sectors. As these tools spread everywhere, expect that tiny gap to close naturally, without any special intervention needed.
Women’s contributions to science are often too eclipsed or forgotten. How can we entice women more into GenAI when eventually, all their hard work will not be noticed for posterity?
Let's challenge the premise here. Today's digital world makes contributions much harder to overlook than in previous eras. With online publications, collaborative platforms, and professional networks, good work gets noticed—regardless of who does it.
The GenAI field is still taking shape. Anyone entering now has the opportunity to make a significant impact that will be documented in real-time across multiple channels. This is especially true as AI expands beyond tech into fields like healthcare, education, and creative industries.
What draws people to emerging fields isn't just historical recognition—it’s the immediate impact and opportunity. Platforms like Coursera make these skills accessible to everyone, seamlessly fitting learning into diverse lifestyles and schedules.
The professional communities forming around GenAI naturally amplify achievements across different demographics as people collaborate on projects and share insights. This creates visibility that happens organically, rather than through forced recognition.
The bottom line? The best way to ensure diverse contributions get noticed is straightforward: create accessible pathways for everyone to develop these skills and apply them in ways that align with their interests and values. When people do work that makes a difference, recognition tends to follow.
