April 21, 2026
AI shapes the world, but who shapes AI?
Original source in Ukrainian: Link
Did you know that globally, women make up only around 22% of artificial intelligence (AI) professionals? This gender skills gap in AI not only limits diversity but also narrows the potential for innovation. Even though digital technology will become more widely available in the market, the digital gender gap will continue to exist unless we change the gendered social norms.
In the era of digital transformation, artificial intelligence is reshaping industry, education, and the labor market. Yet gender biases in AI education and adoption remain a significant challenge, potentially limiting opportunities for women as they continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – largely due to long‑standing stereotypes about “male” and “female” professions that have influenced their choices since childhood.
Think back to your own school textbooks – how many real examples of women scientists did you see there? A telling illustration comes from an experiment in a Kyiv school, where children were asked to draw professionals from four fields: virology, drone reconnaissance, intensive care doctors, and emergency respondents. The spoiler: every single child drew a man in each of those roles. For Ukraine, which strives to build a stable economy despite current challenges, ensuring inclusive, stereotype‑free access to education – especially in the field of artificial intelligence – is crucial. Doing so will foster innovation, inclusive economic growth, and the long‑term resilience of businesses.
The intersection of gender equality and AI
Artificial intelligence systems operate on the data they are trained on. If those datasets contain biases that already exist in society, AI can reinforce gender inequality and other stereotypes – especially in hiring, access to finance, and business support services. For example, AI‑powered recruitment algorithms may replicate existing prejudices by favoring male candidates for technical or leadership positions. Similarly, if historical data contains age discrimination, an AI system may downgrade candidates aged 45+ by assuming they are less adaptable or less capable of learning.
In the lending sector, algorithms can automatically reduce the chances of obtaining loans for women entrepreneurs or members of ethnic minorities if these groups historically had less access to financing. This creates a closed loop in which past inequality continues to shape future opportunities.
A lack of diversity in AI education and within the technical workforce only exacerbates these issues, leaving women and underrepresented groups without a voice in shaping the digital economy. Their needs, experiences, and perspectives are often overlooked during algorithm development, resulting in technologies that fail to reflect the true diversity of society and risk reinforcing discrimination.
AI itself has the potential to positively impact gender equality, for instance by reducing bias in recruitment if programmed accordingly, by generating gender-disaggregated data, by amplifying adaptive learning tools and so much more. Agentive AI – AI that actively assists rather than just responds – has the potential to revolutionize household labor by automating time-consuming tasks, thereby freeing women from the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. Women still perform 2,5 times more household duties than men, limiting their ability to engage in professional or creative pursuits. Additionally, according to a study published in Nature, AI could help achieve 79% of the SDGs, thus more trained professionals are required globally.
Fostering a diverse and inclusive community is not just a goal, but a necessity. Diverse minds bring unique insights, driving breakthroughs that can transform the landscape of computing, and benefit society as a whole.
With the emergence of global ethical standards for artificial intelligence, such as those developed by UNESCO, companies that proactively address gender bias will stay ahead of regulatory requirements.
In Ukraine, where businesses are rapidly integrating AI-driven solutions, addressing gender bias in AI is essential to ensuring fair and equal access to opportunities. Without intervention, women-led enterprises risk being sidelined in funding allocation, business growth forecasting, and access to digital tools, further entrenching economic disparities.
And let’s be clear – inclusion of women in AI isn’t about giving it a female voice assistant; it’s about literally giving women a voice in AI. That means ensuring their presence in game development, data collection and disaggregation, AI research teams, and even venture capital boards where funding decisions are made.
In the venture capital sector, women face greater challenges in securing funding, as algorithms trained on past investment decisions tend to favor male-led teams, mirroring existing market biases. And women make up only 5% of venture investors themselves. AI startups led by women encounter significant disparities in funding, receiving on average six times less capital per deal than those founded by men – even though global data shows that women‑founded startups generate higher returns for every dollar invested compared to their male‑led counterparts.
AI and the sustainability of Ukrainian businesses
According to the AI Ecosystem of Ukraine report by AI House and Roosh, Ukraine has a thriving AI landscape, with over 150 AI startups and more than 100 R&D centers. Ukraine has the second highest number of IT specialists (307,000) among Central and Eastern European countries, while the number of AI specialists is less than 1%. However, gender disparities persist, with women making up only 16% of the Ukrainian AI workforce. This imbalance underscores the need for targeted interventions to foster gender diversity in AI education and entrepreneurship.
The report highlights that Ukrainian businesses increasingly rely on AI-driven solutions for automation, data analysis, and customer engagement. However, if these AI models are trained on biased datasets or developed without gender-inclusive approaches, they risk perpetuating inequality in hiring, finance, and business operations.
The AI analytics market is projected to experience rapid growth, reaching $223.32 billion by 2034, highlighting the increasing reliance on AI-driven decision-making across industries. To remain competitive and sustainable, Ukrainian companies must prioritize diverse AI talent, ethical AI adoption, and inclusive business models, ensuring that AI serves as a tool for equitable economic growth rather than perpetuating systemic biases.
McKinsey also estimates that generative AI could increase the overall economic impact of AI by 15–40% and add $2.6–$4.4 trillion in annual value across various application areas, indicating significant growth in productivity, output, and business value. For Ukraine’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, this creates both opportunities and challenges: without gender‑inclusive AI education and unbiased development practices, companies risk reinforcing inequalities in employment, finance, and entrepreneurship. To remain competitive and resilient, Ukrainian companies must prioritize diverse AI talent, ethical AI implementation, and inclusive business models, ensuring that AI becomes a tool for equitable economic growth rather than a driver of systemic bias.
Conclusion
Gender equality and unbiased AI education are not just ethical imperatives; they are economic necessities for Ukraine’s sustainable business growth. By fostering inclusive AI education and eliminating gender biases in digital transformation, Ukraine can build a more resilient economy where innovation, fairness, and sustainability drive long-term success.
******
In light of the above, the Swiss international organization Helvetas is pleased to present recommendations on responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence strategies for the Eastern Partnership region, including Ukraine. The recommendations are directed toward government institutions, the private sector, civil society, and educational organizations. The document was developed in collaboration with StrategEast and Help.
It is also important to highlight digitalization initiatives such as the Beetroot Academy in Ukraine, implemented within the RECONOMY program. Their AI‑focused educational product equips companies and individuals—particularly women—with the skills needed to thrive in today’s digital economy, fostering both innovation and inclusivity. (link to video)
Authors
Nataliia Koshovska
Comments (0)