Sexism in the age of AI

As we transition into the era of artificial intelligence (AI), feminist activist and author Laura Bates describes this moment as one of "great possibilities and enormous peril" in her new book, The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny.

- NEHA BHATT

What we often underestimate, she argues, is how the increasingly hostile digital climate disproportionately puts women at greater risk. Her book serves as a call to action, "before it's too late."

What most readers know about the rapidly evolving virtual world is likely the tip of the iceberg. In The New Age of Sexism, Ms Bates exposes the disturbing realities beneath the surface, taking us to the heart of deepfake pornography, rampant abuse in the metaverse, the proliferation of cyber brothels, customized sex robots, and other warped distortions of gender dynamics. She examines how emerging technologies are infiltrating nearly every aspect of our lives—from education and entertainment to professional and intimate relationships—amplifying misogyny and introducing new threats to women's rights and safety.