Sultan Alateeg

The study aims to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) influences women-led startups in Saudi Arabia, aiming to understand their unique experiences, challenges, and opportunities within the AI technology landscape. This study used a qualitative method, conducting 16 in-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs operating businesses in Saudi Arabia. The analysis was performed using thematic analysis with NVivo 12, uncovering key themes and insights. The findings reveal that cultural norms, societal expectations, limited awareness, and financial constraints are directly associated with women’s involvement in AI-driven businesses. Cultural biases emerged as impediments, underscoring the need for targeted interventions such as awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to dismantle ingrained biases and foster an environment that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women in the tech and AI sectors. Educational programs, collaborations between academia and industry, and mentorship initiatives were identified as pivotal components to prepare women entrepreneurs to navigate the intricate landscape of AI adoption. Financial inclusion emerged as a critical pillar, advocating for equitable access to funding and resources tailored specifically for women-led AI startups. The study further emphasizes the importance of fostering supportive ecosystems that extend beyond financial aid. Creating networks for mentorship, guidance, and collaboration provides women entrepreneurs with platforms to share experiences and resources, enhancing resilience and the potential for success in the AI landscape.

Acknowledgment
The authors extend their appreciation to the Arab Open University for funding this work through research fund No. AOUKSA-524008.

This study investigates the relationships between women economic empowerment, self-efficacy, and women technology entrepreneurship intention among women operating online businesses in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study design was utilized, with data collected from 256 women entrepreneurs engaged in various online business ventures through a convenience sampling technique. This sample was chosen due to its direct relevance to the study’s objective of understanding the entrepreneurial intentions of economically active women in the digital space. The analysis, conducted using structural equation modeling, revealed several important findings. Women economic empowerment was found to have a significant positive effect on self-efficacy (β = 0.607), indicating that increased economic resources and opportunities enhance women’s confidence in their abilities. Additionally, self-efficacy was identified as a significant predictor of women technology entrepreneurship intention (β = 0.44), suggesting that women with higher self-confidence are more likely to pursue technology entrepreneurship. Moreover, women economic empowerment was found to have a direct effect on technology entrepreneurship intention (β = 0.351). Importantly, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between economic empowerment and entrepreneurial intentions (β = 0.267), highlighting that economic empowerment influences entrepreneurial aspirations both directly and indirectly through its impact on self-efficacy. These findings underscore the importance of economic support and confidence-building initiatives in promoting technology entrepreneurship among women. The study suggests that targeted policies and programs should focus on enhancing economic opportunities and building self-efficacy to foster greater participation in technology entrepreneurship.

Acknowledgment
The authors extend their appreciation to the Arab Open University for funding this work through research fund No. (AOUKSA-524008).