Teens Struggle With AI Literacy as Automation Risks Rise for Women

Schools fail to prepare students for AI-driven workforce, widening gender gap

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:20pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic AI control panel or data center infrastructure, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the various components, conveying the power and complexity of AI technology.As AI becomes increasingly integral to the workforce, schools struggle to prepare the next generation with the necessary skills and fluency.Stanford Today

A recent analysis found that 9.6% of women's jobs are at the highest risk of automation by AI, compared to only 3.5% of men's jobs. However, 64% of women report never using AI at work, and 64% of teens say their schools do not teach or encourage the use of AI as a learning tool. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in the workforce, the lack of AI education in high schools is leaving students, especially young women, unprepared for the future.

Why it matters

The AI revolution is already underway, but the education system has not kept pace. This is creating a significant skills gap, with women disproportionately at risk of losing their jobs to automation. Without proper training and exposure to AI tools in high school, the next generation will struggle to adapt to an AI-driven workforce, further widening the gender gap in tech and other industries.

The details

A 2025 UN analysis found that in high-income countries, 9.6% of women's jobs are classified as being at the highest risk for automation by AI, compared to only 3.5% of men's jobs. Women are notably overrepresented in administrative and clerical positions, which are roles that AI tools can easily replicate. Meanwhile, a 2026 CNBC and SurveyMonkey survey found that 64% of women reported never using AI at work, compared to 55% of men. This suggests that while women are more likely to hold jobs at risk of AI automation, they are also the least likely to use the tools that could help them adapt to these changes.

  • In 2025, the Brookings Institution found that among the 6.1 million workers most likely to be disrupted by AI and least able to adapt, 86% are women.
  • A 2025 Junior Achievement survey of 1,008 teens ages 13 to 17 found that nearly two-thirds — 64% — say their schools do not teach or encourage the use of AI as a learning tool.
  • In the same 2025 survey, 55% of teens said using AI to do homework instead of doing it themselves is cheating, and 42% admitted to doing exactly that, up from 30% in 2024.

The players

Reese Witherspoon

An actress, producer, and entrepreneur who recently posted a viral Instagram reel about the urgency of the AI revolution and the need for women to pay attention.

International Labor Organization

A United Nations agency that conducted a 2025 analysis finding that in high-income countries, 9.6% of women's jobs are classified as being at the highest risk for automation by AI, compared to only 3.5% of men's jobs.

Brookings Institution

A think tank that found in 2025 that among the 6.1 million workers most likely to be disrupted by AI and least able to adapt, 86% are women.

CNBC

A news organization that conducted a 2026 survey with SurveyMonkey, finding that 64% of women reported never using AI at work, compared to 55% of men.

Junior Achievement

A nonprofit organization that conducted a 2025 survey of 1,008 teens ages 13 to 17, finding that nearly two-thirds — 64% — say their schools do not teach or encourage the use of AI as a learning tool.

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What they’re saying

“The AI revolution has begun, and it's time for women to pay attention.”

— Reese Witherspoon, Actress, producer, and entrepreneur

“For a teenager who wants to get into one of those [top AI] programs, start a business, or enter a workforce that runs on these tools, waiting until college to start is already too late.”

— Sarah Hernholm, Founder, WIT, Whatever It Takes

What’s next

Schools and districts need to develop clear AI policies for both students and teachers, ensuring that AI is integrated into the curriculum in a way that builds proficiency rather than just restricting its use. Parents should advocate for these policies and seek out opportunities for their teens to gain real-world experience with AI tools.

The takeaway

The lack of AI education in high schools is leaving the next generation, especially young women, unprepared for an increasingly AI-driven workforce. Without urgent action to close this skills gap, the gender disparity in tech and other industries is at risk of widening further.