The Gendered Impact of Artificial Intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in South Africa: Inequality, Accessibility and Skills Development

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is set to have a major impact on every aspect of society. Yet, little understanding has been generated on how women, in particular, may be affected by this technological epoch. Through an intersectional socio-technological theoretical approach, this chapter explores the implications of the 4IR and its associated technologies—specifically artificial intelligence (AI)—on women in South Africa. Preceded by a discussion on the theoretical approach employed here, this chapter is structured in three substantial parts addressing: first, South Africa’s policy position on the 4IR; second, the role of women historically in the development of computer science and global debates on AI and gender bias; and third, how the global experience of women and 4IR-related technologies is and may impact on women in South Africa. The analysis indicates that if advanced 4IR technologies and policies that seek to govern their use and development do not take into account the values and lived experiences of those they will effect, it can result in discrimination and bias, particularly for women. Overall, an intersectional understanding of the way in which gender is implicated by and implicates in turn the design and development of technology must be adopted in South Africa’s policy responses to the 4IR in order not to, proverbially at least, leave anyone behind.