Empowering Women Through AI: APEC Workshop Highlights

On April 25, 2026, a workshop on “Women-Friendly Artificial Intelligence” was held in Beijing as part of APEC’s initiatives. Representatives from various APEC economies, including Brunei, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, the United States, and Vietnam, gathered to discuss gender equality in AI, the development of trustworthy products, and economic empowerment for women.

The workshop was organized by the Women’s Leadership Innovation Working Committee of the China National Innovation and Development Strategy Research Association. During the event, the “APEC Women-Friendly Artificial Intelligence Toolkit (Guide)” was launched. This toolkit outlines six key action steps, including governance from data to algorithms, security and privacy protection, women’s participation in design, inclusive design, monitoring and feedback, and accessibility.

Currently, AI is rapidly reshaping innovation and industrial structures, yet a digital gender gap persists. According to a report by the GSMA, women in low- to middle-income economies are 14% less likely than men to use mobile internet. Furthermore, women make up less than 30% of the global AI workforce, with only 12% being researchers.

Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, emphasized the differences among APEC economies in digital infrastructure, cultural traditions, and legal environments. She called for enhanced digital and cultural exchanges to explore development paths suitable for each economy, ensuring AI serves as a positive force for empowering women and promoting social development.

Victoria Khava, head of the “AI Women Alliance” at the Eurasian Women’s Forum, noted that the workshop provided a valuable platform for individuals with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences to collaborate and promote innovation and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sama Kutub, an assistant professor at the University of Auckland, encouraged APEC economies to establish fairer AI impact assessment mechanisms and ensure women’s critical roles in system design.

Selina Starling, CEO of the “Great Love Community” in Canada, stressed that the industry should ensure technology serves everyone, not just the interests of a few.

Chen Ling, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Public Management, urged APEC economies to integrate AI literacy into vocational training, establish mechanisms to monitor and correct algorithmic gender biases, and enhance platform rule transparency to ensure equitable opportunities.

He Shuwen, Deputy Director of the National Women’s Federation, highlighted China’s commitment to empowering women in the integration of AI across various sectors. She expressed China’s willingness to strengthen cooperation, deepen project alignment, and share experiences to promote equal development opportunities for women in the AI era across the Asia-Pacific region.

Xu Weixin, President of the China National Innovation and Development Strategy Research Association, stated that building women-friendly AI is an intrinsic standard for mature and responsible technology. He called for APEC economies to prioritize human-centered approaches, create closer cooperation mechanisms in women’s development and the digital economy, and deeply integrate gender equality into the core agenda of AI development.