What does it take to build a digital future that’s equitable and inclusive—particularly for women and girls? This was the central question of a recent OECD webinar I had the pleasure of moderating, exploring the intersections of AI, gender and the future of work. With insights from LinkedIn, Mila and the OECD’s Education, Science, Technology and Innovation teams, the panel brought together data, policy and purpose in the form of a very rich discussion.
Celine Caira, Economist & Policy Analyst at the AI Unit of the OECD Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Division, opened the webinar with a compelling overview of AI and gender dynamics drawn from the OECD.AI Policy Observatory. While women’s participation in AI has grown globally, progress is slow: as of 2023, women made up less than 30% of global AI talent. The gap varies across sectors and countries, with some industries—such as manufacturing and IT—remaining male-dominated. And although women are contributing more to AI research, their presence in STEM careers continues to lag. These numbers underscore why inclusive AI education and training must begin early and extend across the career lifecycle.
Following that, Rosie Hood, Lead Data Scientist at LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute, brought additional insights from LinkedIn’s global labour market data. She emphasized that while AI talent is still a small slice of the workforce, the year-on-year growth rate is higher for women than men—an encouraging sign. She also noted that women are often in roles more likely to be disrupted by generative AI, underscoring the urgency for targeted upskilling efforts.
Anna Jahn, Senior Director of Policy and Inclusion at Mila, urged us to look beyond representation and focus on inclusion. AI is not only a technical challenge—it’s a societal one. “Inclusion means agency,” she noted. We need to ensure that historically excluded groups are shaping how AI tools are designed, deployed and governed. Education systems play a central role in that empowerment.
Bringing in the education angle, Stephan Vincent-Lancrin, from the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills, reminded us that schools and universities aren’t just responding to tech change—they are key actors in shaping it. He called for forward-looking curricula that incorporate ethics, critical thinking and digital skills—with a clear lens on gender inclusion.
It was clear as we neared the end of the discussion that there is much more work to do in this. The OECD AI Principles, grounded in values like transparency, fairness and inclusivity, offer a helpful framework. But they must be matched by investment: in human capacity, gender-aware policies and AI literacy—for students and teachers alike.
The takeaway? AI is not gender-neutral, and neither is its impact on work and learning. If we want the digital future to work for everyone, educators must be empowered to lead change—not just adapt to it.
For the full slide deck and to watch a recording of the webinar you can do so on our website