REWRITING THE CODE (OF CONDUCT?) A qualitative study exploring how gender influences managerial attitudes towards AI in organizations, with a focus on ethical aspects

Sammanfattning

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into organizational life, ethical concerns surrounding its use demand deeper exploration, particularly in relation to leadership. This thesis investigates how gender shapes managers' attitudes toward AI, with a specific focus on ethical aspects. Through 15 semi-structured interviews with senior leaders across Swedish organizations, and analyzed using the Gioia methodology, the study uncovers that while both male and female leaders express ethical awareness, their attitudes could be explained in three dimensions: emotional ambivalence, cognitive interpretation of AI's function and capabilities, and leadership agency. In terms of affect, gender shaped how emotional responses to AI were expressed and tied to ethical meaning-making. Female leaders more often conveyed optimism and calm, linking AI to inclusion and societal benefit. Male leaders more frequently expressed stress, urgency, or anxiety, particularly in relation to risk and accountability. While both groups demonstrated emotional ambivalence, the way this ambivalence was felt and articulated shaped their ethical attitudes in distinct ways. Cognitive interpretations also diverged. While trust in AI was a shared concern, men prioritized system logic and technical reliability, whereas women emphasized relational accountability and human oversight. These belief structures shaped whether attitudes leaned more cautiously or optimistically. Gender also shaped expressions of leadership agency in relation to AI. Female leaders often built confidence through collaborative learning and ethical alignment, reflecting a relational and participatory approach. Male leaders more frequently expressed agency through strategic clarity and decisiveness. By situating ethical AI attitudes within broader organizational and gender dynamics, this study contributes to the fields of gender studies, organizational theory, attitudinal research, and Human-Centered AI. It offers new insights into how ethical leadership is practiced, and how gender matters in shaping the future of responsible AI governance.