Mais IA, mas não mais transformação? Diferenças entre mulheres e homens nos pequenos negócios brasileiros

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The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) in small businesses broadens the debate on gender inequalities beyond access to digital technologies. This study analyzed differences between women and men in AI adoption and its organizational incorporation in Brazilian small businesses. This quantitative, descriptive, documentary study was based on aggregated secondary data from the 2026 Digital Transformation in Small Businesses survey, conducted by Sebrae with 7,182 businesses across Brazil’s 27 federative units. Indicators of digital conditions, training, AI adoption, organizational changes, and barriers were compared using relative frequencies and percentage-point differences. Women and men showed similar levels of internet access, while women reported higher participation in online courses and higher rates of business AI use. In contrast, men showed higher percentages across several indicators of organizational incorporation, including new workflows, cloud services, staff training, data management, and acquisition of equipment or software. The findings indicate that higher adoption does not necessarily correspond to greater organizational incorporation. The study therefore proposes investigating a potential gap between AI adoption and its conversion into business capabilities, broadening the understanding of technological inequalities between women and men and providing a basis for future research on gender equality in AI-driven digital transformation.