Sovereign AI, male-dominated by design: how EU procurement ignores women-led tech

In high-income countries, women are more exposed to AI job displacement than men, with significant underrepresentation in tech roles and funding. A task force identified five gaps in AI policy that risk excluding women, including the lack of a defined 'good AI job' and insufficient support for women founders. The EU's upcoming Quality Jobs Act could address job definitions, while the Platform Work Directive offers safeguards that could be extended. Current funding for women-led startups is inadequate, and procurement practices do not track awards to women-led firms. The report calls for immediate action from EU institutions to address these gaps and enhance women's participation in the AI sector.