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Who makes AI?

Gender inequality in the AI industry is systemic and pervasive. One crucial aspect relates to cultural stereotypes of who is suited to a career in AI. Mainstream films are an enormously influential source and amplifier of these cultural stereotypes.

Previous research has established that (a) cultural stereotypes and representations of scientists and engineers influence the ability of women to access and flourish in STEM fields, (b) such representations in popular media are overwhelmingly male, and (c) films directed by men are less likely to feature female protagonists. However, until now there has been no large- scale study of how AI scientists have been represented on screen.

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of gender representation in AI films. This includes both who is in front of the camera i.e. the gender of the AI scientists and engineers on screen, and who is behind the camera, i.e. who is in charge of directing prominent and popular films about AI. It is based on a study conducted from 2020-2021 by a team of four researchers at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge.

Download the Report