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By Loretta Johnson-Smith, EdD
Assistant Professor, Director of Secondary Education Mount Saint Mary’s University

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in daily life and work, Black women hold a critical yet overlooked position. Black women, specifically Black working moms, are positioned at the intersection of technology advancement, systemic racism, and gender inequality. As we know, AI continues to evolve, promising greater efficiency and new opportunities. But, at what cost?

Early research shows that algorithms and workplace systems are deepening economic disparities for Black women, who are more likely to leave jobs and less likely to be promoted when starting their careers in predominantly White environments. For example, Harvard Kennedy School research finds that Black women entering workplaces with a higher percentage of White colleagues face lower promotion rates and higher attrition.a,b At the same time, disparities also emerge earlier in the education pipeline. Research examining AI’s impact on education reveals a troubling paradox: while AI increases the overall demand for STEM education across students of all races, the impact is uneven, with the greatest gains among Asian students and the lowest among Black students.c Together, these disparities reinforce a cycle of exclusion. Barriers to STEM pathways and workplace advancement limit Black women’s representation in emerging AI careers, even as many of the jobs they currently hold become increasingly vulnerable to automation.

Moreover, AI-generated stereotypes exacerbate this precarity by normalizing distorted narratives about Black motherhood, competence, and professionalism. Recent waves of AI-generated videos have surfaced depicting Black women as irresponsible and dependent mothers relying on government assistance programs and men as the sole sources of livelihood. These portrayals are false and shape workplace perceptions, contributing to the intersection of anti-Black racism and misogyny that Black women experience in digital spaces.

While Black women are often misrepresented in digital spaces, limited access and exposure remain critical barriers. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reports that women and girls globally are 25% less likely than men to use basic digital tools and four times less likely to have computer programming skills, while Pew Research Center finds that only 49% of Black Americans report high awareness of AI, compared to 65% of Asian Americans. Together, these gaps constrain Black women’s ability to use, shape, or oversee AI — particularly for Black mothers seeking to guide their children’s safe and informed use. Addressing AI’s impact on Black women therefore requires intentional intervention, including targeted programs for women of color, transparent algorithmic audits, diverse AI development teams, and policies that ensure equitable access. Without these efforts, AI risks widening rather than closing existing equity gaps.

A collective now exists called Black Parents + AI Resources (also known as PAIR). The collective was established to combat digital disparities and biases. Black PAIR is a community-centered space designed to empower Black families with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to engage generative AI safely, critically and confidently.

This “Closer Look” article is part of the 2026 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California™. To access and read the full report, click here.