Breaking the "Good Girl" Mold: Embracing AI to Lead

Did you know that women are using AI tools like chatGPT nearly 20% less than men? A recent article in the Economist highlights research that looked at a variety of roles where genAI could save time (think journalism, software development, and teaching) and found women use AI tools 16-20% less than men. Even as a genAI Product Manager, where I see this user gap regularly, this number is alarming!

Why this gap? According to the Economist, there are two key reasons for less women using AI tools: confidence and a “good girl” mentality.??

1. Confidence plays a role in this gap because women are more likely to feel they need training to use AI as opposed to simply playing with the tools available
2. This so-called “good girl” mentality also drives this gap - this is the mindset of avoiding tools that create “shortcuts” or what feels like “cheating”. High-achieving women, in particular, tend to impose these strict rules on themselves, believing they must “earn” success without AI’s help.

This mindset is holding women back. Research shows that employers value high-performing women with AI skills 8% more than those without. So, by clinging to these self-imposed rules, we’re missing out on a huge opportunity to stand out and get ahead. This mindset could also potentially shut out women users in the long run - if the adaptation of the technology by women is slower in the outset.

What’s the solution? Follow your curiosity, explore these tools, play around and leave perfectionism behind! AI isn’t cheating; it’s a powerful tool that can enhance the work you’re already doing or creative work that you want to do!

If you're a woman looking to upskill and leverage AI tools or just play around to see what you can create (like my fun GPTs for Scavenger hunts, or exploring tech transfer), reach out—I’d love to help you explore!