University of Phoenix and OpenAI have launched a research collaboration to examine AI skills gaps among women, caregivers, and working mothers, aiming to understand disparities in AI adoption and practice opportunities.
TL;DR
- University of Phoenix and OpenAI collaborate to study AI skills gaps among women, caregivers, and working mothers.
- Research focuses on AI adoption disparities and the impact of caregiving responsibilities on skill development.
- Findings could help employers distinguish between skills gaps and opportunity gaps in AI adoption.
What happened
University of Phoenix and OpenAI announced a collaboration last month to explore AI in education, student support, and career services. The research will focus on AI adoption differences across gender, caregiving status, career stage, and industry.
The university's faculty plans to study how AI skills are developed and applied, with a particular emphasis on understanding the unique challenges faced by women, caregivers, and working mothers.
University of Phoenix students have already logged over 9.8 million assessed skills and earned more than 1.1 million skills badges, including seven focused on AI. The collaboration aims to build on this existing foundation.
Why it matters
The research could help employers identify whether AI skills gaps are due to ability or lack of practice time, particularly among women and caregivers. This understanding could lead to more targeted and effective training programs.
For AI/ML developers and startup founders, the findings could highlight areas where AI tools can be better designed to accommodate different user needs, such as time constraints and varying levels of access.
Tech investors may gain insights into the broader implications of AI adoption disparities, which could influence investment strategies and support for initiatives aimed at closing these gaps.
Key facts
- University of Phoenix and OpenAI collaboration focuses on AI skills gaps among women, caregivers, and working mothers.
- Research will study AI adoption differences across gender, caregiving status, career stage, and industry.
- University of Phoenix students have logged over 9.8 million assessed skills and earned more than 1.1 million skills badges.
- Seven skills badges are focused on AI, reflecting the university's existing emphasis on AI competencies.
- The average new student at University of Phoenix is 38 years old, 62% are employed, and 70% are women.
- The 2026 Stanford AI Index found AI skills appearing in 2.5% of U.S. job postings, up 55% year over year.
- Mentions of agentic AI skills rose more than 280% year over year, according to the 2026 Stanford AI Index.
Context
The collaboration between University of Phoenix and OpenAI comes at a time when AI skills are becoming increasingly important in the job market. The 2026 Stanford AI Index highlights a significant rise in AI-related job postings, indicating a growing demand for AI fluency.
Understanding the specific challenges faced by women, caregivers, and working mothers in developing AI skills can help create more inclusive and effective training programs. This research could also inform the design of AI tools that better accommodate the needs of these groups.
For the AI industry, addressing these disparities is not only a matter of equity but also a strategic imperative. As AI continues to transform various sectors, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to develop and apply AI skills will be crucial for driving innovation and growth.