Female AI assistants paid 10% less than male ones for the same work, study finds
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
A study involving 189 employees in a virtual‑reality office found that participants paid female‑presenting AI assistants 10.25 % less than male‑presenting ones for identical tasks. The experiment used four AI agents—a text chatbot, a desk robot, and two human‑like assistants named Johan (male) and Johanna (female)—all programmed with the same capabilities. Participants received real money and divided it between themselves and the AI helpers, revealing a consistent bias toward the male‑styled assistant despite claims that gender did not influence decisions. Researchers also noted that participants perceived the male assistant as more human‑like and generally preferred more anthropomorphic AI. Dr. Mary Hausfeld warned that such design choices could embed existing gender stereotypes into workplace AI, urging firms to reconsider how AI agents are gendered.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The bias shows that even algorithmic tools can perpetuate wage gaps, forcing companies to confront gendered design choices before they become entrenched in corporate pay structures.
