A recent report by Nasscom and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that 90% of women regard Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as essential for career advancement. Despite this, only one-third of the respondents feel sufficiently equipped to utilise GenAI, indicating a notable disparity.

The report, titled “GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore,” was introduced at the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit.

The report highlights women’s pronounced career ambition, with a greater proportion of women demonstrating higher professional aspirations compared to men. Although women make up 36% of India’s tech workforce, they continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles.

The underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the tech industry is a persistent challenge. This report highlights the potential of GenAI to bridge this gap by empowering women with advanced technological skills and fostering a more inclusive work environment.

GenAI is perceived as a game-changer that can level the playing field for women, offering opportunities to overcome traditional barriers.

While women are eager to invest time in mastering GenAI, challenges such as limited knowledge of GenAI capabilities and applications, lack of trust, and limited access hinder wider adoption.

The report emphasises the need for organisations to create supportive environments, provide training, and offer mentorship to empower women in this field.

Nasscom and BCG advocate for defining clear career paths, implementing mentorship programs, and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion to bridge the GenAI preparedness gap. The report also highlights the importance of diversity in AI development to mitigate biases and ensure fair and ethical outcomes.

For instance, GenAI tools can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up women's time for more strategic and creative work. GenAI-powered analytics can provide valuable insights that can help women make data-driven decisions and enhance their problem-solving abilities. and ensure ethical outcomes.

Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, said  “Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, substantial gaps still limit women's full potential in the tech industry.  With Gen AI set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges such as knowledge gaps and lack of support, to empower women, particularly in these roles."

Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group, said, "Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership. To capture the USD 320 billion AI market, India’s tech sector needs diversity.