Women and men don't hold the same types of AI jobs, either. According to the WEF report, men were more likely than women to hold senior positions, such as software engineer or head of engineering. Women in AI, on the other hand, were more likely to hold lower and less lucrative positions, such as data analyst or researcher. If AI skills increase in demand in the future -- as predicted by the WEF report -- a gender gap in those skills could mean fewer women are able to participate in the economy as a whole. Additionally, the AI industry itself could suffer if the AI gender gap continues on its current trajectory.

UBS Group AG is expanding its workforce in one of the few areas in banking where demand for talent is growing. "We're currently recruiting more people for artificial intelligence," Veronica Lange, head of innovation at Switzerland's biggest bank, said in an interview in Moscow. "These are data scientists, architects, business analysts." AI refers to technology capable of performing tasks that normally require human intelligence. Big global banks like UBS are using it to scour vast databases for insight on customers and markets that could help lenders stay competitive as more and more technology firms delve into financial services.