Addressing gender equality in the digital and AI era

On 15 January 2026, CESI, together with the luxembourgish union CGFP, held a conference in Luxembourg as part of eQualPRO, bringing together stakeholders to discuss how gender equality at work can be strengthened at a time when digitalisation and artificial intelligence are reshaping workplaces and public services.

The first part of the programme offered a retrospective on the EU’s role in promoting equality, looking at the path from equality directives to current policies. Participants were invited to reflect on what has been achieved so far and what lessons should guide the next steps for equality in Europe.

The conference then turned to the present and future, focusing on how equality can be safeguarded and advanced as digital tools and AI become more widely used. Discussions centred on:

• Inclusive public administration and ensuring gender equality in the age of digitalisation and AI,
• Inclusive digital strategies to build a digital society that “leaves no one behind,”
• The need for legal frameworks and democratic accountability to protect equality in a digital society,
• Europe’s role in shaping the future, including gender equality within the Digital Decade and the regulation of AI.

A dedicated roundtable and open exchange brought these themes together around a key question: what are the opportunities and risks for gender equality in today’s and tomorrow’s world of work? The discussion was followed by a Q&A, allowing participants to share perspectives and priorities for action.

By hosting this conference under eQualPRO, CESI continues to create a space for dialogue on equality at work, connecting long-standing EU equality objectives with emerging challenges linked to digital transformation and AI—and helping ensure that technological change supports fairness and inclusion in workplaces and public services.