Researchers found that nearly half of the analyzed artificial intelligence systems exhibit gender bias, raising concerns about the potential for increased inequality in hiring, finance, healthcare, and other sectors.
Unfortunately, reality proved more complex. Researchers who studied 133 AI systems across various sectors found that 44.2% displayed gender bias, and about 27.5% showed both gender and racial bias. This study was commissioned by the Haas Center for Justice, Gender, and Leadership.
This bias could potentially affect a wide range of things—from credit card limits to recruitment, online advertising, medical research, and image generation. A well-known example involves Jamie Hanson, wife of tech entrepreneur David Hanson, who claimed in 2019 that her husband's credit limit was twenty times higher than her own, despite joint financial management.
SAPICS, the South African supply chain industry organization, warns: 'While AI itself is not biased, it is a mirror. When it is trained on historical data, AI tools reflect existing gender biases. This is a classic supply chain rule: garbage in, garbage out. If unchecked, AI will not just reflect past inequalities; it will amplify and accelerate them on a larger scale.'
The organization raised this issue during a panel discussion at the recent SAPICS Conference in 2026, where leaders emphasized the need to combat AI gender bias not as a technical problem, but as a priority in culture and leadership.
Conference panelists noted that many hiring algorithms favor male candidates because they are trained on decades of historical data that reflects and reinforces existing inequality. SAPICS added that 'although algorithms do not create bias, their input data shapes the outcome, and this issue may be linked to only 22% of AI and data science specialists being women.'
The rise of AI could also create difficulties for women seeking to enter the supply chain sector, as automation begins to transform entry-level positions. A Gartner study showed that 55% of supply chain executives expect AI advancements to lead to reduced entry-level hiring in the coming years. Since these positions are often the first step toward future leadership roles, narrowing the pipeline at the entry level could limit women's opportunities for advancement.
SAPICS stressed that 'in a profession like supply chain management, which is transforming under the influence of AI at an incredible speed, the impact of this technology on gender equality represents a threat that industry leaders cannot ignore.' It continued: 'While AI is becoming an integral part of modern supply chain operations—including demand forecasting, inventory optimization, warehouse automation, and predictive analytics—it can also negatively affect how women enter and develop in the supply chain profession.'
Supply chain specialist Katrina Tyson believes that the true value of AI should lie not in staff reduction or cost-cutting, but in upskilling and strengthening existing employees. Tyson noted: 'When routine tasks are automated, managers reclaim their most valuable asset: time for reflection, contemplation, and approaching complex problems with creativity and nuance.'
She concluded that AI, when used intentionally as a thinking partner rather than an outsourcing tool, strengthens current leaders by combining deeply human qualities such as empathy, intuition, and consensus with the scale, speed, and power of technology. 'Good AI strategy does not aim to replace talent, but to give exceptional leaders space to truly lead.'
Nevertheless, despite serious concerns about AI's impact on industries, the SAPICS Survey on Women's Leadership in Supply Chains for 2026 revealed some encouraging changes. For instance, the percentage of women facing discrimination decreased from 62% in 2025 to 44% this year, and the percentage of women experiencing resistance when managed by men dropped from 59% to 48%.
The Bombay High Court expressed serious concern on Thursday regarding the consequences of the resident doctors' strike from Maharashtra for patients. The court warned the protesting doctors that if they refuse to return to work immediately, their salary payments will be forcibly stopped.
The strike began over the issue of homeopathic registration, which led to the disruption of various services.
The Ministry of Finance presented the bill 'On Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendments), 2027' in parliament. In connection with this bill, there are reports about the possibility of introducing a discount rate for sellers (MDR), which could be up to 2000 rupees.
It is important to note that this fee will apply not to ordinary consumers, but to merchants—both small and large. Consequently, buyers purchasing products, using taxis, or other services will not bear these costs. Furthermore, no commission will be charged for money transfers.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted that hasty conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the introduction of MDR for UPI transactions yet, as the system is still under discussion. He emphasized that the Reserve Bank's focus is on increasing the usage level of UPI, and the government continues the amendment process.
A recent survey conducted as part of a local round study revealed significant trends. More than 45,000 people from 322 districts across India participated in the survey, which showed that if a monthly rate (MDR) is introduced for large merchants, over 53% of users will stop using UPI for transactions exceeding 3000 rupees. Among those planning to abandon UPI, 27% stated they would switch to credit cards, 14% to debit cards, and 12% to bank transfers or cash.
According to the survey results, 18% of respondents will continue using UPI only if the merchant covers the commission, while 12% will continue using UPI even if a fee needs to be paid. Another 14% stated that their decision would depend on the size of the commission.
This study was conducted following a proposal to amend Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act. Currently, banks and payment service providers are prohibited from charging a monthly rate (MDR) on digital payments. The proposed amendment will grant the central government the authority to determine which payment methods will be exempt from such charges.
The Migration Service of Uzbekistan has signed a cooperation agreement with another American company specializing in placing foreign agricultural workers.
This agreement provides for the training and employment of Uzbek citizens in seasonal agricultural jobs in the United States of America under the H-2A visa program.
According to the Migration Service statement, the goal of this agreement is to expand interaction in the field of organized labor migration and create additional opportunities for the legal employment of Uzbek citizens.
As part of the project, the parties intend to develop training programs that meet the requirements of US employers, provide candidates with language and professional training in English, implement a system for assessing practical skills and joint certification, and create transparent mechanisms for selecting and dispatching workers.
The Migration Service will be responsible for candidate selection, conducting training on US labor legislation and working conditions, and ensuring the timely return of Uzbek citizens to their home country after completing seasonal work.
The agency reported that information about the first requests from American employers for seasonal agricultural workers, as well as details of the candidate registration procedures, will be published on the Migration Service's Telegram channel 'Xorijda ish'.
