AI impact on the corporate gender gap

The aim of this research is to describe the impact of AI (artificial intelligence) on the corporate gender gap. The research methodology applied to this paper is the qualitative method through the application of the multiple case study analysis. We selected two privatal case study. Sources of analysis were corporate data, financial and sustainability reports for the financial year 2023 and 2024 of two Italian listed companies and a questionnaire that was prepared, with open-ended questions and then submitted to two management representatives of the companies involved, through semi-structured interviews. The two companies were chosen because, in the last two years, i.e. as of 2023, they have introduced and enhanced AI tools in the performance of work tasks, to the benefit of their employees. The research focuses not only on the adoption of AI tools by employees, but also on the ability of such tools to affect the gender work gap, the gender pay gap and other aspects of work related to gender differences. This represents a novelty compared to the traditional reference literature, which is focusing on the use of AI, but has not yet delved into how this might affect the gender gap and the eventual narrowing of this gap at the corporate level. The paper enriches the existing literature through study and results that are a useful baseline for academic and practitioners’ implications about the evolution of the research in the use of new technologies and STARA (Smart Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Algorithms) in work tasks and the changes they can bring about in the gender gap as a result of continued adoption, to the benefit of all workers in the company.