Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Women More Wary of AI Risks Than Men, Study Finds
A new study found that women are more worried about the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) than men.
The researchers surveyed almost 3,000 people in the U.S. and Canada.
They found that women, on average, think AI is riskier than men do.
Women also tend to be more careful in general, like when choosing between a small guaranteed reward or a chance at a bigger one.
The study also found that women are more likely to work in jobs that could be affected by AI, which might make them more cautious.
However, when the researchers showed how AI could help workers, women supported it almost as much as men.
The study suggests that AI policies should consider these differences to avoid making inequalities worse or causing more resistance to AI.
Women view AI as riskier than men, with an 11% higher average risk score in a survey.
Women exhibit higher overall risk aversion in general, as shown by lottery-style questions.
Women are more likely to work in roles vulnerable to automation, increasing their exposure to AI risks.
Women expressed more uncertainty about AI benefits but supported AI use when presented with clear employee benefits.
The study highlights the need for gender-specific AI policies to address these concerns and prevent deepening inequalities.
- Who
- Beatrice Magistro of Northeastern University and colleagues
- What
- A study revealing gender differences in AI risk perception
- When
- Survey conducted in November 2023, study published in PNAS Nexus
- Where
- United States and Canada
- Why
- To understand gender differences in AI risk perception and its underlying factors
- Study Participants
- Nearly 3,000 people in the United States and Canada
- Survey Month
- November 2023
- Men's Average Risk Score
- 4.38
- Women's Average Risk Score
- 4.87
- Risk Aversion Difference
- 11% higher in women
- Key Researchers
- Beatrice Magistro of Northeastern University and colleagues
- Published In
- PNAS Nexus