As artificial intelligence continues to transform the global workforce, efforts to increase women's participation in the field are gaining momentum amid persistent gender disparities. While women occupy the majority of roles in generative AI applications—such as administrative staff, cashiers, and back-office positions, according to research from the Brookings Institution—they remain significantly underrepresented in technical, leadership, and decision-making roles tied to AI development and deployment.

A study by the Interface think tank highlights that only 22 percent of AI-related positions worldwide are held by women, who represent less than 14 percent of senior leadership in the sector—a figure lower than women’s overall presence in technology industries. “Women are still underrepresented in the technical, the capital, the decision-making layers that are shaping how AI is built and deployed,” said Felicia Newhouse, founder of AI-Powered Women, a Cambridge-based group focused on professional development and education around AI.

Similarly, Luda Kopeikina, managing partner at venture capital firm Noventra Ventures and cofounder of the nonprofit Women Applying AI, underscored the importance of equipping women to take leadership roles in AI across various domains. “It’s a movement to provide the keys to the kingdom for women to actually lead with AI everywhere—in work, in life,” she said.

Last week in Boston, approximately 200 women gathered at the High Street Market for a networking event hosted by Women Applying AI, sharing insights about emerging AI tools and applications. Discussions ranged from “vibe coding”—the practice of building websites using AI without programming expertise—to AI-driven presentation design platforms. The nonprofit, launched in September 2025, has attracted more than 1,000 members nationwide through virtual and in-person programs aimed at building practical AI skills and fostering awareness of ethical issues surrounding AI’s use.

Participants emphasized the importance of understanding AI’s societal implications alongside technical proficiency. Rebecca Moore, an entrepreneur coach, stressed the need for safeguards in AI decision-making. Citing healthcare as an example, she noted that some AI diagnostic tools have exhibited racial bias due to reliance on historical medical data reflecting existing disparities. Efforts such as Boston-based Clairity’s AI system, which forecasts breast cancer risk using more diverse data sets, are viewed as promising steps toward addressing these challenges.

Women from diverse professional backgrounds, including biotech and education, have found value in these groups. Giselle Ventura, a biotech professional attending a recent online session, described feeling supported by candid conversations about the difficulties in navigating AI-driven job markets. Others, like Beth Rochefort, a learning technology specialist, have used group resources to enhance their skills following job loss, highlighting the trend of midcareer women seeking to reinvent themselves in the AI era.

Newhouse’s AI-Powered Women plans to hold a two-day conference at MIT this fall and to expand its online learning platform. Unlike the nonprofit Women Applying AI, her initiative operates as a for-profit venture but shares a similar mission. Both organizations aim to place women “at the center” of the AI revolution rather than on its sidelines.

These local efforts complement national initiatives, such as Silicon Valley-based nonprofit Technovation, which provides AI education and startup competitions for young women. As billions of dollars continue to flow into AI research and development, advocates emphasize that broadening educational opportunities for women is essential to ensuring equitable participation in shaping the future of technology.

“We are living the future, and it’s incumbent on all of us to stand up and be counted and use it, apply it, share it with the rest,” Kopeikina said. “It’s economic power, it’s tremendous influence. So we kind of have to.”