Women in the technology industry are marginally outpacing men with generative AI (GenAI) adoption in the workplace, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

A study by the consultancy, which surveyed 6,500 women and men across Germany, India, Japan, the US, and the UK, found that 68 per cent of women in tech say they use a GenAI tool at work more than once a week, while 66 per cent of men say the same.

Historically women have been less likely than their male counterparts to adopt new technologies but the new research suggests that overall women are generally on par – and in some cases slightly outpacing – men when it comes to GenAI adoption. However, the study did show that there are still some variations in adoption across both job function and seniority.

Senior women in technical functions are ahead of men in the same roles by an average of 14 per cent.

However, those women working in non-technical senior roles like human resources, legal, and finance, are trailing behind by two per cent.

Junior women in technical roles also lag behind their male peers by an average of seven per cent, a disparity that BCG warns could "exacerbate existing pipeline challenges" in numerous tech companies.

Women in junior non-technical positions are lagging the most in adoption, behind by 21 per cent compared to men in the same roles.

“Fewer than 30 per cent of middle managers and senior leaders in tech today are women,” said Maria Barisano, a managing director and partner at BCG and a co-author of the report. “GenAI presents a unique opportunity to narrow the gender gap in the tech industry, but it requires proactive actions from both companies and the women employed by them.”

Neveen Awad, managing director and partner at BCG and co-author of the study said that now more than ever companies need to be "hyper-focused" on rolling out measures that increase equity in the adoption of the technology.

“They can begin to reduce gender gaps and generate outsize impact today by targeting their actions to individual cohorts," continued Awad.

Speaking about the results of the survey, Sai Bendi, software development manager at KYC automation firm Encompass Corporation said that the gender gap in technology is an issue that is still front and centre for the industry.

"In tandem with the increased spotlight on gender diversity that we are seeing, there is no doubt that the acceleration and development of new technologies, such as Generative AI, has the potential to act as a catalyst for positive change as women are presented with opportunities to use the tools at their disposal to their advantage when it comes to boosting their skills and confidence," she said. "In our increasingly digital-first landscape, the possibilities afforded by technology such as AI provide the perfect chance for women to take the mantle when it comes to focusing on their own learning and development to position themselves to play a part in the advancement of critical innovation."

---