New Delhi, Mar 30: Women are increasingly playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI), even as their overall representation in the sector continues to lag behind, according to recent industry reports.
As global competition intensifies in AI development, a growing number of women leaders are contributing to the design, deployment and governance of large-scale technology systems.
In India, major technology firms are building AI platforms with global reach, supported by diverse engineering teams.
Data from Foundit indicates that women now constitute around 32 per cent of the country’s technology workforce, up from 29 per cent a year ago.
Participation in emerging technology roles has also risen, reaching approximately 31 per cent in 2026.
However, representation in AI-specific roles remains significantly lower, with women accounting for only about 20 per cent of the workforce in this domain.
A report by KPMG noted that women’s presence in leadership positions has improved gradually over the years, supported by policy measures and corporate diversity initiatives.
Despite this progress, women continue to be underrepresented in senior roles within AI-related fields.
According to a joint study by ANSR and Talent500, women hold only 14 to 19 per cent of senior positions in AI, even though they represent over 30 per cent of the entry-level workforce.
The report highlighted a persistent “broken pipeline” that hampers career advancement for women in the sector.
India, which has one of the world’s largest pools of female STEM graduates at around 43 per cent, continues to face a substantial gender gap in AI leadership, estimated at nearly 64 per cent.
Experts say that increasing participation of women in AI leadership is crucial for building more inclusive and holistic technology solutions, particularly as AI systems become deeply integrated into everyday life and global economies.
