As artificial intelligence (AI) weaves itself into nearly every facet of modern life, from job hiring algorithms to healthcare diagnostics, the question of who builds this technology has never been more important. A report from interface, “AI’s Missing Link: The Gender Gap in the Talent Pool” offers a sobering answer: it is overwhelmingly not women.
Analysing data from nearly 1.6 million AI professionals across the globe, the report’s findings are stark; woman comprise just 22% of AI global talent, and less that 15% in senior positions.
A European paradox
While the European Union (EU) has made progress in overall workplace equality, this progress has not impacted the gender divide in AI.
Germany and Sweden, two of the most gender-progressive countries in the region, show some of the lowest female representation in AI at around 20%.
This picture is also reflected in Europe’s so-called ‘tech hubs’, such as Frankfurt which boasts only 19% female representation in AI, with Milan being the lead city with only 30.7%.
Meanwhile, countries whose historic policies and cultural norms in both encouraging and supporting women in STEM from an early age, such as Latvia and Finland, are quietly outperforming these larger economies with over 40% female representation in AI.
These figures are not only a reflection of hiring decisions, but point to systemic barriers throughout the talent pipeline. While women make up about 29% of entry-level AI roles, this number thins dramatically with career progression, with less than 15% representation at the C-suite and senior executive level.
The causes are multifaceted: a lack of female role models in leadership, persistent workplace biases, and societal expectations around caregiving and career breaks all play a role.
The education bottleneck
Cultural stereotypes are still being reinforced, even in the 2025, which continue to steer girls away from STEM subjects. The report highlighted that women account for just 35% of students in STEM-related higher education and only 28% of global researchers.
The other issue is that when women do enter STEM fields, many exit prematurely due to hostile work environments, lack of promotion opportunities, and poor work-life balance.
Global talent, local opportunity
The report also highlights a promising, yet under-leveraged, phenomenon: female AI talent migration.
The EU has become a hub for AI talent from the Global South, with India, China, Iran, and Brazil among the top source countries. However, filtering for women talent only tells a different story, with female representation still lagging.
For example, while India leads in total AI migration to the EU, it drops to fourth place when looking just at female professionals, which indicates gendered barriers in mobility and opportunity.
Missed opportunity for innovation
The gender gap in AI is not just a fairness issue. Diverse teams are more likely to challenge assumptions, identify blind spots, and enhance the overall effectiveness and applicability of AI systems across diverse user groups, resulting in systems that serve a wider population.
The EU cannot afford to overlook this massive pool of untapped talent if it wants to be a global leader in AI! And with an increasing global demand for skilled AI and STEM talent, tapping into the full range of available expertise, including women and other underrepresented groups, is essential, not optional.
Diversifying the AI workforce is vital for building inclusive AI systems that serve everyone, not simply a ‘nice to have’ box-ticking exercise.
This will require:
- Initiatives to boost STEM educations for girls
- Transforming workplace cultures
- Investment in mentorship and retention initiatives
- Implementing policies that support women throughout their careers
Because in a world increasingly mediated by algorithms, who writes the code matters. And right now, too many women are missing from that picture!
Partners
