The AI industry is booming. Women are getting left behind
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What's this about?
Women hold just a fraction of new AI jobs but are overrepresented in roles with high risk of AI disruption There’s a common fear among people who work in Silicon Valley: snag one of the fast-growing, high-paying jobs in artificial intelligence, or get trapped in the “permanent underclass”, a phrase
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A dimly lit tech startup office with rows of cubicles filled with young men intensely coding on laptops, while a woman in the background is quietly reading a book labeled 'The Future of AI and Gender Equality'
Caption: In the era of AI, she's the only one not coding a résumé.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theguardian.com.
Editor's note
While it's tempting to sound the alarm about women being left behind in AI, we must also ask if the rush to fill these high-paying tech jobs is really a panacea. Perhaps it's time to acknowledge that not everyone needs to be on the bleeding edge of AI to lead a fulfilling and economically secure life.
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Panel 1
Conference Room at an AI Company *The room is filled with sleek, modern technology and a large screen displaying AI code. A group of men in suits are discussing job prospects. A woman, dressed in professional attire, stands slightly apart from the group, looking at the screen with concern.* Woman (sighs)
Man 1: The future is in AI. We're hiring like crazy.
Man 2: But what about the women? They’re overrepresented in roles at risk of AI disruption.
Woman: I can see my resume going straight to the 'permanent underclass' pile.
Panel 2
Coffee Break Area *The woman from the first panel is now sitting at a table with a coffee in hand, looking at her phone. A man approaches her, looking serious.*
Man: I heard you’re worried about your job security?
Woman: Yeah, I'm trying to figure out if I should pivot to AI or just start selling artisanal coffee.
Panel 3
Elevator *The woman is standing alone in the elevator, looking at her phone. The doors open and a group of men in suits enter, looking triumphant. They all nod at her, and one man winks.* Woman (dryly)
Man: Good luck with the 'permanent underclass', ladies.
Woman: Thanks. I’ll be the one teaching your AI to make better coffee.
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