Female Managers Are Judged More Harshly Even When They Are AI

As AI takes on managerial roles in the workplace, questions arise about how people perceive AI managers compared to human ones, and how gender affects those views. People often attribute human-like traits, including gender, to AI systems, whether through anthropomorphism or design. We conducted randomized controlled trials in which teams of three participants worked under a human or AI manager presented as male, female, or gender-neutral. The manager selected one team member to receive an award, and we examined participants’ reactions. Before the award decision, people showed no strong preferences about the manager’s type or gender. But after the award process, perceptions shifted. Those awarded viewed their managers more positively – especially if the manager was male. Female managers, particularly female AIs, were judged more harshly when they did not give awards. These findings suggest that gender bias in leadership extends to AI, raising important concerns for the design of fair and effective AI management systems.