Featuring Dr. Maryam Alavi’s Take on AI’s Role in Career Growth

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work — from how we manage our inboxes to how we make big decisions. But as this technology becomes more and more prevalent, it raises an important question: Whose voices are shaping the future of AI in the workforce?

For women, this moment offers both challenges and new possibilities. Dr. Alavi, a professor of IT Management at Georgia Institute of Technology, says that women have an opportunity to influence how AI develops — starting now. However, she’s also looking ahead to the world we’re progressing towards. “Work in the future will be AI-driven across all levels, all industries, and all functions,” she explains. “So if AI is going to be so prevalent in business environments, not using it effectively or  avoiding it may provide some barriers to the advancement of women in their careers.”

Dr. Alavi has been a proud member of the IWF (International Women’s Forum) for over 20 years. Our CEO, Kari Love, serves on IWF’s Board of Directors and Co-Chairs the Membership Engagement Committee. Together, they continue to support current and future generations of women who lead. 

In a recent interview with the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Dr. Alavi shared her expert insights about how women can use AI to their advantage. We’ll share how AI can help women work more efficiently, spend time on what matters, and shape a workforce that uplifts all voices and perspectives. With the right tools and knowledge, AI can be a powerful resource — not just for keeping up, but for leading the way to a brighter tomorrow.

Why Women Should Engage with AI

AI learns from the data and right now, women have an opportunity to ensure their perspectives are part of that learning. If more women adopt and shape AI tools, they can help create systems that work for everyone.

That means being part of the conversation early. AI isn’t only for engineers and data scientists; it’s already being used in HR, marketing, business development, and customer service. If you’ve used tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Canva, or LinkedIn’s writing assistant, you’ve used AI.

However, the prevalence and relative popularity of these AI tools don’t necessarily translate to widespread use for women in the workforce. In fact, professionals such as Dr. Alavi point to a concerning gap: “Overall research has shown that women generally show lower adoption rates of AI. For example, one study found that on average women are adopting AI at a 25% lower rate than men do. Another study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that half of men used generative AI in the previous 12 months, compared to only one-third of women who had used the technology in the previous 12 months.”

Research clearly indicates that women in AI simply aren’t keeping pace with their professional peers, and, like Dr. Alavi, we aren’t sure what’s driving the disparity. What we do know is that by embracing AI in the workforce, women can help guide the direction of AI, moving beyond just using AI to actively shaping how it works for them.

Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Can Streamline Work and Unlock Creativity

Juggling meetings, emails, reports, presentations, and strategy is all in a day’s work. AI can take some of that load off. From writing outlines and summarizing meetings to automating repetitive tasks, AI can give back valuable hours in your day.

We’re thinking about productivity here, but we’re also thinking about freeing up energy for creative thinking and leadership. With more mental bandwidth, women can focus on strategic planning, innovation, and even their own professional development.

Dr. Alavi speaks to her own experience with AI as an effective tool for streamlining routine work: “I’m constantly looking at new research literature in relation to my field, trying to understand the new developments, if you will. And frankly, generative AI has been very useful in helping me to analyze, to synthesize, and to summarize information […] I have the ability to very quickly get an overview and summary of various papers and then based on that summary and overview decide if something is truly relevant and if I want to dig deeper into it. So it has really reduced the time that I need to search, access, and analyze information.”

True, not everyone has an extensive backlog of technical literature like Dr. Alavi, but navigating everyday professional headaches can be a breeze when AI enters the picture. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or managing a nonprofit, tools like Otter.ai (meeting transcription), Notion AI (writing and planning), and Fireflies (note-taking) can help you work more efficiently and with less stress.

The State of AI for Women: Opportunities & Challenges

There’s growing momentum for women in tech, and AI is part of that story. The World Economic Forum predicts that millions of jobs will continue to be impacted by AI over the next few years, with new roles emerging in areas like AI strategy, ethics, and governance.

But, as we’ve discussed, challenges remain. Women are still underrepresented in AI-related fields, and many AI systems continue to reflect historical bias from the data they’re trained on. That’s why it’s critical for women to get involved — not just as users of AI, but as creators, testers, and decision-makers.

Dr. Alavi encourages the use of AI tools for women professionals and reminds us that “if women are not interacting and using and adopting generative AI tools, these tools may miss out on learning from women’s input because, as you may know, these tools learn by interacting with human beings. It’s important that women increase the adoption of the tools so that these models have the benefit of learning from women’s input as well.”

Plus, upskilling can make a big difference. Courses on platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Khan Academy now offer AI basics for non-technical professionals. You don’t have to become a coder; you just have to get comfortable navigating the tools.

How You Can Lead the Way: Turning Insight into Action

AI isn’t a distant future. It’s already here! And women who start experimenting with these tools today will be the ones leading tomorrow’s conversations about innovation.

Dr. Alavi encourages women to start small. Try one new AI tool this month, and keep in mind that “you just have to go into it head first and just explore and figure out learning by doing.” Explore a free online course. Join a webinar or community for women in tech. Share what you learn with your team or mentor someone who’s just starting out. Every action you take helps shape a more equitable and empowered workforce.

And if you’re looking for more ways to support women and girls as they navigate this changing world of work, consider getting involved with the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. Through strategic grantmaking, community partnerships, and programs that promote economic empowerment, AWF is helping women across Atlanta thrive in the workforce and in life.

Whether you’re looking to give back, connect, or lead, AWF offers opportunities to turn your passion into impact. Together, we can ensure that every woman has the tools and the support to shape her future.