Why Women Are More Skeptical of AI Than Men

Women are becoming noticeably more skeptical of artificial intelligence than men, according to a new Morgan Stanley survey, highlighting a growing gender divide in how Americans view the technology.

The findings suggest that many women are not seeing the same benefits from the AI boom, particularly in the workplace. They are also more concerned than men about AI safety and the construction of data centers in their communities.

By the Numbers

Morgan Stanley surveyed 2,000 consumers in late September, asking whether their overall view of AI was positive or negative. The bank then calculated net sentiment by subtracting negative responses from positive ones.

The gap was striking:

• Men: +30% net sentiment
• Women: -1% net sentiment

The divide has been visible since Morgan Stanley began tracking AI sentiment in April. At that point, women’s net sentiment stood at +6%, while men’s views have remained relatively stable.

The latest results show that women’s attitudes have continued to deteriorate even as overall sentiment toward AI in the U.S. remains positive.

Safety and Data Centers Are Major Concerns

Men and women with negative views of AI shared some concerns. Similar proportions pointed to issues such as AI being used for scams and its role in spreading misinformation.

But the differences become clearer around AI’s physical and societal impact.

About 44% of women who dislike AI said they did not want a data center built near their homes, compared with 36% of men.

Women were also somewhat more likely to worry that AI is developing too quickly without adequate safeguards. 57% of women cited this concern, compared with 54% of men.

Interestingly, men were more likely than women to point to data privacy as a reason for their negative views. About 49% of men cited privacy concerns, compared with 39% of women.

AI Sentiment Varies Sharply Across Groups

The gender divide is only one part of a broader pattern in Morgan Stanley’s findings. Sentiment toward AI varies significantly depending on age, income, and political identity.

Older Adults Are More Skeptical

People aged 55 and older had a net AI sentiment of -14%, compared with roughly +25% among people under 55.

That difference suggests that familiarity and exposure to newer technologies may play a role in how people view AI, although the survey does not establish a direct cause.

Lower-Income Consumers Are Less Positive

Income also appears to be associated with attitudes toward AI.

Consumers earning $100,000 or more had a net sentiment of +27%, while those earning less than $50,000 recorded sentiment of just +7%.

The difference matters because the economic benefits of AI may not be reaching all groups equally.

Political Differences Are Also Visible

Political identity showed another significant divide.

Self-described liberals had a net AI approval of 0, compared with +31% among self-described conservatives.

As concerns about AI safety, employment, and data center construction grow, these differences could become increasingly important for policymakers.

Data Centers Are Becoming a Political Issue

The growing skepticism around AI is not limited to opinions about the technology itself. It is increasingly affecting where and how AI infrastructure gets built.

In some areas, opposition to data centers has already contributed to construction delays or pauses. Morgan Stanley’s survey also found that sentiment toward data centers becomes even more negative when people expect one to be built close to where they live.

“It’s another bottleneck for the broader AI buildout,” Michelle Weaver, head of thematic research at Morgan Stanley, tells Axios.

That could become an important issue as technology companies continue investing heavily in the computing infrastructure required to support AI.

The AI Gender Gap Goes Beyond Public Opinion

The technology industry has struggled with gender imbalance for years, but the rapid expansion of AI could create another layer to the problem.

Morgan Stanley’s survey did not examine the labor market directly. However, recent LinkedIn data indicates that women are securing only about a quarter or less of new high-paying AI jobs. Their representation is even lower in executive positions.

At the same time, AI is expected to significantly reshape occupations where women make up a large share of the workforce, including administrative, clerical, and customer service roles.

That combination could have serious implications for workplace equality. If men capture a larger share of the highest-paying AI opportunities while women are disproportionately exposed to automation in certain occupations, existing gender pay disparities could become harder to close.

“We cannot let the AI gender gap become an entrenched chasm,” Bridget Griswold, CEO of LeanIn, tells Axios.

Women May Also Face a Different Workplace Experience With AI

The concerns are not limited to which jobs AI creates or eliminates.

LeanIn, a women’s advocacy organization, has found that women can be judged more harshly than men for using AI at work. In some workplace settings, men may be viewed as innovative for using the technology, while women can face criticism for doing the same.

The organization has also pointed to evidence that AI systems themselves can reproduce or amplify gender bias.

If those patterns continue, the gap in AI adoption may become more complicated than a simple difference in technology use. It could influence who feels comfortable experimenting with AI, who receives credit for using it effectively, and who benefits from the productivity gains it can provide.

Women Were Already More Skeptical of AI

The latest Morgan Stanley findings are not occurring in isolation.

Earlier Pew Research polling also found that women were more skeptical about AI than men, while men reported using the technology more frequently.

That combination is worth watching. If women remain less positive about AI while also using it less often, they could miss opportunities to build the skills and experience that become increasingly valuable as AI becomes embedded in more workplaces.

The Bigger Picture

The growing divide over AI is about more than whether people like or dislike a new technology.

For women, concerns about safety, data centers, workplace treatment, job disruption, and unequal access to high-paying AI roles may be shaping attitudes toward the technology.

At the same time, the people who are most enthusiastic about AI may be the ones gaining the earliest access to its economic and professional advantages.

That creates a potential feedback loop: skepticism can reduce adoption, lower adoption can limit experience, and limited experience can make it harder to benefit from the technology as it becomes more important.

The challenge for the AI industry and policymakers will be making sure that the technology’s benefits are not concentrated among the groups already positioned to gain from it.

As AI moves deeper into the workplace and communities, closing the gender gap may require more than encouraging women to use AI. It may also require addressing the reasons many women remain skeptical in the first place.