Harvard researchers conducted a survey of more than 5,400 Americans, revealing significant gender differences in confidence about AI figures. Men were more likely to claim knowledge of prominent AI executives, with 73 percent saying they knew Sam Altman, compared to 53 percent for real individuals like Mira Murati.
The study found that men were more confident in their AI knowledge, with 40 percent of women claiming to know fictional executives like Susan Milner and Craig Dalton, while 38 percent recognized Murati. This confidence gap extended to how often individuals admitted uncertainty, with women more frequently unsure of answers to AI-related questions.
Researchers noted that men were more likely to use AI tools and answer factual questions correctly, but both genders had similar error rates. However, women were more often uncertain, answering 3.3 questions out of 12 incorrectly compared to 2.3 for men.
This pattern was observed across media coverage, where men were named in AI headlines 14 times more often than women.
"Maybe there should be more women prominently featured as experts or given the platform to express: not sure," said Laura Manley, executive director of the Shorenstein Center. Manley emphasized the need for more voices acknowledging uncertainty in AI discussions, as current discourse is dominated by confidence in either doom or abundance.
The study highlights broader concerns about AI, with both men and women expressing fear. However, women were more worried, while men rated positive emotions like curiosity and excitement higher. The findings underscore the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping AI's future, as many questions remain unanswered.
Source: wired
