A new report by Nasscom and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that while 90% of women see generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as essential for career growth, only a third feel ready to harness its potential. The report, released on Thursday, is titled "GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can’t Ignore" and was unveiled at the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru.

The study delves into how women are adopting GenAI and offers strategies to promote an inclusive and growth-oriented tech environment. It highlights that women generally exhibit higher ambition levels compared to men, with notable exceptions at senior management positions within tech roles.

The findings show that women are highly motivated to succeed with GenAI. In fact, 95% of junior-level women, 96% of those in mid-management, and all women in senior management roles are willing to invest extra time to excel in this technology.

Despite global trends where 65% of both men and women believe GenAI will enhance women's inclusion in tech, India shows a different picture. Here, the adoption rates for GenAI among men (76%) and women (80%) surpass global averages, yet senior women in India lag 9% behind their male counterparts, contrary to the global trend where senior women lead GenAI adoption by 12%.

The report identifies several barriers for women, including limited knowledge (38%), fear of competence assessment (28%), restricted access to GenAI tools (22%), lack of trust in the accuracy of GenAI tools (14%), and company policies against using GenAI (13%).

Sreyssha George, Managing Director at BCG, emphasizes the need for greater diversity in India’s tech sector to fully tap into the $320 billion AI market. She stresses that overcoming gender disparities and including diverse perspectives is crucial for developing effective and unbiased AI systems.

Sangeeta Gupta, Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, notes that addressing these challenges—such as knowledge gaps and lack of support—is essential for empowering women in tech roles. She believes that overcoming these obstacles will not only boost individual success but also foster a more equitable and vibrant tech industry.

The report also found that 72% of women and 66% of men view GenAI as a tool for increased efficiency. Among women, 70% in tech and 83% in non-tech sectors see GenAI as beneficial. Approximately 40% of women believe that using these tools will significantly boost their professional competence.

Daily use of GenAI tools is reported by one in five women, with nearly 35% of senior women using them daily. Notably, women in non-tech roles use these tools more frequently (31%) compared to their tech counterparts (25%).

Regarding specific tools, 93% of women use ChatGPT, 52% use Microsoft Copilot, and 34% use Google Bard.

The study, which surveyed 485 participants and included data from BCG’s Global GenAI Tech Survey involving around 6,500 employees, aims to shed light on gender diversity in the GenAI field and identify areas for improvement.