Tech-Driven Equality? Global Insights on AI Innovation and the Gender Wage Gap

This study examines the global impact of artificial intelligence innovation on the gender wage gap, an issue critical to economic equity and sustainable development. While artificial intelligence technologies have been lauded for their productivity-enhancing potential, their implications for gender-based wage disparities remain insufficiently explored. Addressing this gap, the study investigates whether artificial intelligence innovations contribute to narrowing or widening gender wage differentials across 68 countries from 2006 to 2019. Using panel regression methods and a comprehensive dataset of artificial intelligence patent activity, earnings data, and macroeconomic indicators, the study assesses the effects of artificial intelligence on male and female wages and on the wage gap between them. The findings reveal that artificial intelligence innovations increase average earnings for both genders, with relatively larger gains for women, leading to a significant reduction in the gender wage gap, especially among high-income earners and in high-income countries. These results suggest that artificial intelligence could function as an equalizing force in global labour markets. The study offers critical insights for policymakers and business leaders, highlighting the importance of inclusive artificial intelligence adoption and targeted strategies to leverage technological innovation for equitable economic outcomes. JEL : J31, J16, O33, C23.