90% women view GenAI as crucial for career growth: NASSCOM-BCG report

On the sidelines of the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru on Thursday, NASSCOM unveiled its GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore report along with BCG.

The report analysed the adoption of AI/Gen AI amongst women and outlines actionable steps to cultivate an inclusive environment and drive sustainable growth.

Based on extensive surveys and interviews with industry leaders, the report revealed some important findings on professional ambitions of women, highlighting the importance of diversity in reducing bias and enhancing ethical outcomes in AI. It indicated that diverse teams are better in detecting ethical issues and making decisions while considering others’ wellbeing.

According to the report, as GenAI is projected to dominate 33% of the global AI landscape by 2027, the AI market is expected to reach $320-380 billion, growing at a CAGR of 25-35%.

Based on survey findings, it underscores that 95% of junior, 96% of mid-management and 100% of the senior management women are ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI.

The report also showed that women viewed Gen AI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence, with 45% of the surveyed women in tech roles experiencing higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers.

Survey findings revealed that one in five women use GenAI tools almost daily with nearly 35% of senior management women reporting daily usage.

Around 90% of respondents viewed GenAI tools as crucial for their professional success and believed these tools to be highly or somewhat critical for career advancement. Despite this recognition, only 35% of women felt completely prepared to use GenAI tools professionally, with this readiness gap being more pronounced in non-tech functions. Specifically, 37% of women in tech roles felt prepared compared to 31% in non-tech roles.

The report also pointed out that the lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among some women at senior management levels could be attributed to several challenges, including limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny.

From entry-level roles to the C-suite, women consistently pointed to knowledge gaps as the primary challenge in adopting Gen AI. The report outlined that addressing these knowledge gaps and other barriers is crucial to increasing GenAI adoption among women.

While GenAI will act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35% of surveyed women respondents felt completely prepared by their employers, leading to barriers in adoption.

The report recommended key actions to boost women's success in these technologies, including: defining clear career pathways; guiding through formal and informal mentorship programs; enabling flexible work arrangements; offering ethical training; building a culture of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion; and fostering networking opportunities.

Commenting on the report, Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, NASSCOM, said, “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. By addressing these obstacles and cultivating an inclusive environment, businesses can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape.”

"Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership. To capture the $320 billion AI market, India’s tech sector needs diversity. This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives,” said Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group.

At the event, NASSCOM also unveiled the DE&I Organization Assessment Framework to help organizations map their DE&I progress.