Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently in the news. More and more occupations could potentially be replaced by generative AI or other digital technologies. So far, on average, men have been more affected than women, i.e. men are more likely to work in occupations that could be replaced by AI. However, this varies greatly depending on the occupation. There are also occupations with a high probability of automation in which many women work. In particular, many administrative and case-handling tasks – which are mostly performed by women – can now be fully automated. Thus, the use of digital technologies and AI will further strengthen the changes in the world of work, including for women. It cannot be said that women are less affected or benefit from digitalisation and that men are the losers. Instead, one has to look at the technological opportunities in different occupations in a very differentiated way. Existing gender inequalities could be both exacerbated and reduced by AI. Using substitution potentials, we want to investigate in this project how automation probabilities by gender have changed in recent years, particularly since the introduction of generative AI. Substitution potentials measure the proportion of tasks that could currently be performed by AI or other digital technologies. Based on multivariate analyses, we consider the relationship between occupational substitution potential and employment development among women and men. Are there any signs that traditional gender inequalities are being reproduced or that the use of AI and other digital technologies is reducing gender inequalities?