Significant gender gap in ChatGPT adoption persists

A recent study highlights a significant gender gap in the use of ChatGPT, a popular AI tool. University of Chicago economist Anders Humlum discussed these findings in an interview, revealing that women lag behind men in adopting this technology. The research, conducted in collaboration with Emilie Vestergaard from the University of Copenhagen, found that women are 16 percentage points less likely than men to use ChatGPT. This trend appears across various professions, even among workers in similar roles. For example, roughly 64 percent of journalists and marketing professionals reported using ChatGPT, while only 18 percent of financial advisors and accountants did. The study also showed that adoption rates among women in specific fields, like financial advising, were particularly low. Fewer than 10 percent of women in that profession reported using ChatGPT in their work. The reasons behind this gender gap remain unclear, as women express optimism about the benefits of ChatGPT. Researchers noted that while women tend to save time using ChatGPT, they may face more barriers to adoption. Many reported not knowing how to use the technology, which could contribute to the gap. A related survey in Norway found similar trends, with men using ChatGPT more frequently than women. Overall, these findings surprised the researchers and raise important questions about the impact of generative AI on job markets. Understanding this gender gap is crucial as AI tools continue to evolve and reshape the workplace.