Bundesfamilienministerin Karin Prien (CDU) has warned that artificial intelligence can perpetuate discriminatory patterns. She explained that AI systems are trained on internet data, which often contain entrenched biases. “Simply regulating the sector isn’t enough; we also need greater transparency and clear quality standards” she told the papers of the Funke‑Media group.
Prien cited the use of AI‑assisted pre‑screening of job applications as a concrete example. When an algorithm is trained on a company’s historical hiring records, it can replicate past gender imbalances. “If, in the past, men dominated certain positions, the AI will learn that pattern and may continue to disadvantage women” she cautioned.
Her call for reforms focuses on three pillars:
1. “Transparency” – detailed disclosure of the data sets used for training.
2. “Risk‑screening mechanisms” – systematic checks for discriminatory outcomes.
3. “Greater diversity in development teams” – ensuring that women’s perspectives shape AI design, training and deployment.
Prien highlighted that women are markedly under‑represented in AI development and technical leadership, a gap that shapes the questions asked, the data chosen, and the metrics applied. She urged policymakers to debate whether solutions should come from hard regulation, voluntary commitments, or certification programs, emphasizing that the specifics must be worked out in depth.
