We use the myth of Pygmalion as a lens to investigate and frame the relationship between
women and artificial intelligence (AI). Pygmalion was a legendary ancient king of Cyprus
and sculptor. Having been repulsed by women, he used his skills to create a statue, which
was imbued with life by the goddess Aphrodite. This can be seen as one of the primordial AI-
like myths, wherein humanity creates intelligent life-like self-images to reproduce or replace
ourselves. In addition, the myth prefigures historical and present gendered dynamics within …