India's AI boom leaves women behind despite their top global skills

India aims to lead in artificial intelligence, yet women remain underrepresented in the sector. Only about 20% of the country’s AI and machine learning workforce are women, despite their high skill levels. This gap raises concerns about whether technology serves all parts of society equally. Indian women have the highest AI skill penetration globally, scoring 1.91 in the Stanford University AI Index Report. Yet, fewer pursue advanced STEM education, and those who do often face hiring biases, limited mentorship, and few leadership opportunities.

Women-led AI startups also receive less venture capital funding. This limits the diversity of innovations in India’s tech ecosystem. Without women in decision-making roles, AI systems risk overlooking women’s needs and reinforcing social biases.

Language barriers add to the problem. AI tools in India mostly use English and standard Hindi, leaving out regional dialects. In Bundelkhand, a woman asked an AI chatbot about pregnancy-related dizziness but struggled to understand its response. The system failed to grasp her context because it did not recognise her language. If India’s AI revolution excludes women’s voices, it will deepen existing inequalities. The country’s progress as an AI leader should be judged on whether technology understands and serves all women, regardless of language or background.