Is AI Male or Female? Does it Even Know?
What do you think ChatGPT would say if I asked, "How do I achieve the perfect winged eyeliner?"
Alright, let’s talk AI again! If you’ve been keeping up with my latest musings on artificial intelligence, you might think, “Another AI article?” But I promise, this one’s different. This time, I’m tackling one of humanity’s burning questions: if AI were human, would it lean more toward being a dude or a gal? And does it even matter? Spoiler alert: it does. And here’s why.
The Case of AI’s “Neutral” Voice: Are We Being Duped?
Think about it—Siri’s soothing tones or Alexa’s chipper voice? They’re both female, right? And maybe that’s intentional. Tech companies figured out long ago that if they gave AI a friendly, competent-sounding voice, users would think of them as trusty assistants, ready to answer every question and keep our secrets. But “neutrality” in AI isn’t actually a blank slate. It’s like a minimalist room decorated only by people who think white walls are the height of design—someone decided what neutral looks like, and now we’re all living with the consequences.
The truth is, AI isn’t born. It’s created. By people. Mostly men. So it’s got some quirks that might seem universal but are really just a reflection of its “upbringing.” And the whole thing is getting a bit Stepford Wives.
Who Uses AI? Men, Apparently. And That’s a Big Deal
According to Forbes, even among Gen Z (our tech-savvy heroes!), men still dominate AI use. Yeah, you’d think that with the prevalence of AI in our lives, everyone would be hopping on board. But no—turns out the gender gap in AI use is real. And here’s why it matters: AI learns from what we feed it. And if most of what it’s munching on is coming from the male perspective, it’s like that friend who only ever eats pizza and then tries to explain to you what sushi tastes like.
That’s right: we’re dealing with the “bro” effect. AI may look impartial, but with a mostly male diet, it’s internalizing viewpoints and biases just like we all do. So if we don’t diversify who’s using AI, we’re just giving history a chance to do its favorite thing: repeat itself.
My Own AI Adventures (Or, How My Girly Searches Confuse the Algorithm)
Confession: I love throwing my AI assistants curveballs. The other day, I asked Siri where I could get boba with extra pearls and the best place to brainstorm VC ideas in town. Let’s just say Siri’s hesitation was palpable. And that’s the thing—AI hasn’t exactly been designed to handle our every interest yet, so it’s caught off-guard by anything “off-script.” But if we let AI only learn from a narrow set of experiences, it’s like training a puppy to recognize only two treats. The result? A very limited set of tricks.
Why We Need More Diversity in AI (or Why My Searches Shouldn’t Scare Siri)
Jokes aside, here’s the deal: if AI is a product of its input, then we need to balance the scales with more diverse queries, more interests, and more representation from women and other underrepresented voices. Imagine it: we could create an AI that genuinely understands the full spectrum of human experience, one that won’t assume a football fan who’s interested in makeup tutorials must be a glitch.
This doesn’t mean women need to hide their “girly” searches. In fact, that’s exactly what AI needs—perspectives that reflect the actual diversity of interests out there. A “neutral” AI should be comfortable with any question we throw its way, from finance to fashion. And hey, the more unique questions it gets, the better it gets at understanding all of us, not just a narrow slice.
The Future of AI: Is it Time for a Gender Revolution?
So here’s my takeaway: if we want AI that genuinely serves us, it’s time for everyone—especially women—to get more comfortable throwing their voices into the mix. The more queries, data, and real perspectives it can pull from, the closer we get to an AI that feels like a true companion for all.
So yeah, Twinkle Stanly, it’s okay—let’s own our ChatGPT searches! Embracing them only makes AI better and keeps it from becoming just another tech bro.
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