Female Entrepreneurship Facing Artificial Intelligence in the European Union Countries

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) carries the risk of widening gender inequalities due to the digital divide, while simultaneously promising to equalise the situation for women through the gender digital dividend. The conflicting findings from previous studies justify the need to investigate the gendered aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) diffusion. Specifically, the aim of this chapter is to understand the relationship between female entrepreneurship and the adoption of AI technologies within business contexts at the macroeconomic level. To achieve this, cluster analyses are conducted for the European Union (EU) countries. The results indicate an inverted U-shaped pattern in the relationship between the level of female entrepreneurship and the diffusion of AI technology in business. In the EU countries belonging to clusters with the highest level of AI diffusion, female entrepreneurship is at a moderate level, while in the EU countries with the lowest level of intelligent transformation, both extremes are observed: the highest and the lowest levels of female entrepreneurship. The variety of patterns in female entrepreneurship and AI technology spread in the EU countries implies the complex and multidimensional nature of the interrelationship, and, thus, it indicates the need for diverse, country-specific policies and practices to reach the intelligent transformation with respect to more equal society.

Citation

Gaweł, A. (2024), "Female Entrepreneurship Facing Artificial Intelligence in the European Union Countries", Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. (Ed.) Social Responsibility, Technology and AI (Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility, Vol. 23), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 163-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2043-052320240000023009