Are you a smart, capable woman who’s been resisting AI?

I’m not going to downplay the real dangers here. As women leaders, we’re right to be cautious.

The Real Problems We Need to Address

Systematic Gender and Racial Bias

A 2024 UNESCO study shows that 79% of women work in roles at high risk of AI automation, compared to 58% of men.

MIT research found facial recognition error rates as high as 35% for darker-skinned women and less than 1% for lighter-skinned men.

For a deeper look, watch Coded Bias.

Copyright Misuse and Data Appropriation

The U.S. Copyright Office (2024) reported that many AI training datasets include copyrighted materials without permission or licensing. Several lawsuits are already in progress.

Environmental Impact of AI Systems

AI data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024.

This is expected to rise to 426 TWh by 2030.

One ChatGPT query uses nearly five times the electricity of a Google search.

Job Displacement That Affects Women Most

Women dominate administrative and cognitive roles — the types most likely to be automated. Research shows 79% of women work in AI-vulnerable positions.

Non-Consensual Deepfakes

In 2024, researchers found that 96% of deepfake pornography targets women.

Women lawmakers are 70 times more likely than men to be targeted.

Lower AI Adoption Among Women

Harvard research across 18 studies found women are 25% less likely to adopt AI tools.

Many report concerns about ethics, misuse, or being accused of “cheating.”

These risks matter. But there’s another side to the story: not adopting AI can also widen career gaps and limit opportunities for women leaders. It’s a Catch-22.

The Three AI Camps Among Women Leaders

Camp 1: The Resisters

Those who stay away from AI because of its dangers.

Camp 2: The Basic Users

Those using AI for simple tasks like email drafts and social posts.

Camp 3: The Strategic Adopters

Women leaders using AI for deep thinking, planning, and leadership support.

If you’re in Camp 1, you’re not alone. But there are safe and strategic ways to use AI without compromising your values or leadership style.

Novel Ways Women Leaders Can Use AI

(Especially helpful if you manage complex projects, ADHD tendencies, or perimenopause-related cognitive changes.)

1. Use AI as Your “First Reader” and Strategic Mirror

AI can help you clarify your thinking without replacing your voice. Upload a draft or strategy document and ask:

• Who do you think I’m writing for?
• What are my three main ideas?
• Where are the gaps in my logic?
• What assumptions am I making?

This makes AI a tool for clarity — not creativity replacement.

2. Use AI for Strategic Project Management

When a project feels overwhelming, give AI the details and ask for:

• A step-by-step plan
• Timeline suggestions
• Potential obstacles
• Clear decision points

This approach is ideal for long-term and multi-step projects.

3. Use AI to Organize Your Strategic Thinking

If your ideas feel scattered, AI can help you:

• Create an outline
• Identify patterns
• Suggest helpful frameworks
• Highlight missing pieces

This is especially powerful for program design, research organization, and long-term planning.

4. Use AI for Decision-Making Support

When you’re stuck or mentally overloaded, try asking AI:

• What is the highest-impact next step?
• What are three different approaches to this goal?
• What questions am I not asking yet?
• What assumptions might be holding me back?

You stay in control — AI simply helps clarify the path.

The Research Perspective on Women and AI

As leadership expert Ellen Faye says:

“Use AI to free your people, not erase them.”

MIT Sloan research also shows that AI enhances human cognition when used for analysis, organization, and pattern recognition, not as a replacement for original thinking.

The Bottom Line for Women Leaders Using AI

Your caution is valid. But strategic adoption can:

• Reduce cognitive load
• Support clearer thinking
• Improve decision-making
• Help you stay competitive
• Protect your energy and focus

AI becomes powerful when you use it to enhance your leadership — not replace your expertise.

Ready to Explore Strategic AI Support?

Explore how to create success systems that honor your unique journey and expertise.

Subscribe to The Weekly Reset, where I share research, ideas, and strategies for leaders navigating the complexities of sustained impact.

Connect with peers facing similar challenges in the Momentum Community — a space designed for meaningful connection and ongoing strategic support.

If you’re looking for a personalized partnership to create space, a plan, and focus in your leadership, let’s talk. I offer Private Executive Coaching and the Momentum Accountability Club for executives and entrepreneurs ready to move from overwhelmed to clear, from scattered to focused.

Send me a message, I’d love to explore how we can support your continued growth.

Key Research Sources

Fact-Checked References:

• UNESCO (2024). Generative AI: UNESCO study reveals alarming evidence of regressive gender stereotypes
• Buolamwini, J. & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender Shades: Intersectional Accuracy Disparities in Commercial Gender Classification. Proceedings of Machine Learning Research
• U.S. Copyright Office (2024). Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Report
• Pew Research Center (2024). US data centers’ energy use amid the artificial intelligence boom
• MIT Technology Review (2025). We did the math on AI’s energy footprint
• CNN Business (2023). Nearly 80% of women’s jobs could be disrupted, automated by AI
• National University (2025). 59 AI Job Statistics: Future of U.S. Jobs
• American Sunlight Project (2024). AI enters Congress: Sexually explicit deepfakes target female lawmakers
• ACM Conference (2025). Deepfakes on Demand: The rise of accessible non-consensual deepfake image generators
• Harvard Working Knowledge (2025). Women Are Avoiding AI. Will Their Careers Suffer?