AI Use Sparks Workplace Bias Fears

“Competence Penalty” Discourages Adoption, Especially for Women

American businesses, from Hollywood studios to tech titans, are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence. However, a significant hurdle to AI adoption isn’t technological, but rather a subtle, yet potent, social bias.

The “Competence Penalty” Revealed

Research from the University of Beijing and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University highlights a phenomenon dubbed the “Competence Penalty.” This bias leads colleagues to perceive AI users as less capable, irrespective of their actual performance. The implications are particularly concerning for women in technical roles, according to Fast Company.

Study Uncovers Gendered Perception Gap

A study conducted within a leading, unnamed technology firm revealed that a coding assistant AI, intended to boost developer productivity, saw limited uptake. After twelve months, only 41% of nearly 30,000 engineers had tried the tool. The data showed a disparity: 39% of male engineers aged 40 and over had used it, compared to 31% of women.

AI-Assisted Code Judged Less Competent

In a controlled experiment, 1,026 engineers were asked to evaluate identical Python code. When presented as AI-generated, the code was perceived as being produced by individuals 9% less competent on average. This penalty was more pronounced for women (13% less competent) than for men (6% less competent). Engineers who did not use AI were the harshest critics, with non-user men penalizing women AI users 26% more severely.

Fear of Bias Drives AI Avoidance

Consequently, many employees, particularly women and those over 40, are shying away from AI tools to avoid this “Competence Penalty.” This fear undermines the potential productivity gains offered by AI, and research indicates that women’s adoption of AI tools is, on average, 25% lower than men’s.

“More to Lose” by Using AI

Kamales Lardi, author of *Artificial Intelligence for Business*, commented on this trend. “According to my experience, women are often the subject of increased vigilance concerning their technical skills and capacities. There may be a deeply anchored fear that the use of AI is perceived as a way of cheating or as a sign of incompetence.” This suggests that for women, the perceived risk of being judged less competent outweighs the benefits of AI tools.

AI’s Impact on Gender Parity

The study authors noted, “Those who dreaded the penalty of skill in tech industry, in particular older women and engineers, were precisely those who adopted AI to the least.” Rather than equalizing opportunities, AI’s integration into the workplace appears to be exacerbating existing biases in male-dominated sectors.