This is what women leaders can teach us about using AI well

There’s a gender gap in generative AI use. According to research published by Harvard Business School, women adopt artificial intelligence at lower rates than men. Many have interpreted that statistic as hesitation. But what if adoption rates are the wrong measure? In my work teaching and coaching executives, I’ve noticed something different. Many senior-level women aren’t slower to adopt AI because they’re resistant to technology. They’re more deliberate about how they use it. They don’t begin with AI. They begin with themselves. That distinction matters. AI doesn’t understand what matters most in a particular situation. It doesn’t know an organization’s history, political realities, stakeholder relationships, or the human consequences surrounding a decision. Experienced leaders recognize that judgment is their responsibility. AI use that showcases this wisdom will expand, challenge, and strengthen their thinking without ever replacing it. Across dozens of leaders, I’ve observed the following four habits in executive women’s AI use that consistently produce better outcomes: 1. Define the problem before asking AI to solve it The most effective AI users don’t start by asking the to…