A recent ad for Narwhal Labs, an artificial intelligence company, has sparked controversy at Bristol Airport. The provocative tagline reads: “She outworks everyone. And she’ll never ask for a raise,” which some have interpreted as perpetuating gender stereotypes.

The ad, featuring a half-woman, half-robot illustration, contrasts with the male version, which suggests that only men need to worry about finding and following up on leads. Critics argue that the ads are sexist, pushing the toxic idea of an endlessly available female worker.

Rebecca Horne from Pregnant Then Screwed said, “This advert is misogyny with a marketing budget, a textbook case of sexist labour stereotypes dressed up as ‘innovation’.” The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) received several complaints, leading to the ad being taken down by the airport.

Narwhal Labs defended their campaign, stating it was never intended to be perceived as misogynistic or racist. They said they aimed to depict a wide range of demographics and that the debate sparked is exactly what they wanted. However, many remain unconvinced, with comments on LinkedIn questioning how such an ad could have been approved.

Anti-AI campaign group Pull The Plug even created satirical versions of the ads, highlighting the absurdity of the original. The incident raises questions not just about gender bias but also about the ethical considerations in AI advertising.