Aligning AI Sovereignty with Positive Gender Impact
Globally, increased awareness about the risks of overreliance on a handful of entities and regions for critical AI and digital infrastructure has renewed interest in AI sovereignty. Broadly defined as a strategic approach to autonomy and control over the AI ecosystem, it includes Sovereign AI, the capability of governments and enterprises to independently develop, deploy, and govern AI systems using their own infrastructure, data, models, and talent.
The push for technological autonomy has led to many regional and local governments testing open-source alternatives while some have already started their transition. There are many new public and private sector partnerships initiated to build domestic AI factories and establish localized control of AI infrastructure. Beyond the implications for national security and competitiveness, sovereign AI initiatives can have a significant impact on gender equality and equity, such as women’s inclusion in the AI labor force, pay equity, as well as their online safety.
While several legal frameworks for data protection and privacy exist, challenges persist in effectively addressing violations. When vendors, users, and consumers of AI tools reside in different regions, accountability for biases and other harmful outputs from AI tools can be challenging because of differences in regional laws and regulations. For example, some jurisdictions do not recognize deepfakes as a specific crime, thereby creating "safe havens" for abusers, who are shielded by local laws.
Resource disparities lead to further gaps between regulatory intent and implementation, slowing down cross-border investigations and enforcements. In addition to technical, economic, and security considerations, it is vital for governments and global organizations to prioritize impact assessment for women and other marginalized groups to ensure they do not fall through the cracks.
Join us on Monday, September 21 at 10a ET during the UN High Level Week 2026 in New York for our virtual affiliate session supporting ‘Digit'all Inclusion’ theme of ITU–UNDP Digital@UNGA programme. We will bring together experts from private, public, and civil society sectors for a timely discourse on aligning AI sovereignty with positive gender impact, specifically advancing SDG 5 for gender equality and SDG 8 for decent work and economic growth.
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Organizer: To expand the critical work of Women in AI Ethics®, launched in 2018 to elevate the voices and work of diverse experts in the AI Ethics space, WAIE+™ was established in 2025 as a Public Interest AI program. Through its global expert community, fellowship program, and responsible AI ecosystem, WAIE+ provides educational programs and resources to build a safe and secure AI future for all of humanity. Please reach out to team@womeninaiethics.org for more details.