Women entrepreneurs benefit more from AI adoption, study finds
A new study by Gusto reveals that while men are more likely to leverage AI in business, women entrepreneurs who adopt the technology report greater benefits and productivity gains.
Men are more likely than women to use artificial intelligence (AI) when launching or running a business, but female entrepreneurs who embrace the technology are more likely to see significant productivity boosts, according to a new study by online HR services provider Gusto.
The study found that 64% of men leveraged AI to launch a business in 2025, compared to 56% of women. Men were also more likely to turn to the technology for developing business ideas, building products, setting up operations, and managing administrative tasks.
However, female entrepreneurs who did adopt AI reported greater advantages. The Gusto study found that 54% of women using AI said the technology made it easier and cheaper to launch their business, compared to 47% of male entrepreneurs.
"Although there’s a discrepancy in the share of men and women starting businesses [with AI], the gap actually reverses itself when we look at who benefits from AI use," said Gusto senior economist Nich Tremper. "More women than men said that once they were using AI, they saw efficiency gains—that it was easier or cheaper to start their business. So women are benefiting more, even though they’re less likely to use AI."
The lower reported adoption rate among women might reflect a broader trend where men generally embrace new technologies more frequently. Tremper suggests that women who do use AI might be more intentional and effective in its implementation when starting their ventures.