AI and Gender—The Ambivalent Role of AI in Advancing Gender Equality for SDG 5

Abstract Gender issues are gaining increasing attention in science, business, and politics. Moreover, the United Nations (UN) has put gender equality on its agenda and is looking for innovative ways to achieve it. The potential is seen in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI is increasingly bringing about changes in all areas of life, such as transport, communication, work, and health. This paper aims to explore how AI applications can have a positive impact on achieving the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the UN 2030 Agenda in relation to gender equality. Based on a scoping review that includes both scientific literature on existing AI applications and broader theoretical and conceptual discussions on the role of AI in society, the article critically examines the potential positive and negative implications of technological developments for the advancement of gender equality. The findings reaffirm the ambivalent perception of AI technologies: On the one hand, AI offers opportunities to move society toward gender equality in the future; on the other hand, unexpected negative consequences like increasing inequalities and ethical problems must also be considered. In this context, the paper also addresses the implications for social work, emphasizing its role in leveraging AI to challenge structural disadvantages while highlighting potential risks such as reinforcing surveillance or existing biases. International legal and ethical frameworks can counteract the risks of using smart technologies.