Queer AI: Key Developments and Changes Since March 2025
In March, as part of the Tech Together campaign, techUK convened a panel of researchers and AI technologists to explore how Artificial Intelligence systems shape the experiences of queer people. The discussion highlighted both the opportunities AI offers for greater visibility and inclusion, and the risks that emerge when these technologies are developed without diverse voices at the table.
Over half a year later, community initiatives and initial efforts to establish standards are offering a clearer picture of what inclusive AI can, and should, look like and where harms can remain.
You can read the full event summary here:
A quick look back at our webinar on how AI navigates queer content and where allyship meets algorithms, hosted on 19 March as part of techUK’s Tech Together campaign. Read and watch the summary here.
Key developments from the past six months
Aligning closely with many of the concerns raised by our panel, there has been a noticeable increase in research explicitly focused on queer identities in AI systems since March.
To take one example, the QueerInAI 2025 Workshop held in May with The Nations of the Americas Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (NAACL), published a substantial paper examining queer representation, bias and identity in modern AI systems. The paper not only identified emerging patterns in how queer identities are encoded and interpreted by AI models but also advanced the conversation by proposing new methodological frameworks for evaluating queer-specific harms and by outlining practical steps researchers can take to improve accuracy of representation. Closer to home, in September the Shifting Power project hosted their first “Thought Collective” workshop in Margate. The workshop brought together queer artists and AI researchers to imagine alternative AI futures rooted in queer theory and practice, where participants worked in pairs to develop diegetic prototypes.
In addition to these, recent research has highlighted a series of continuing concerns:
AI systems persistently default to white, cisgender and able-bodied “norms”, even in modern models: A case study from the Department of Arts at Università di Bologna centered around the Google Gemini 2.0 Flash revealed ongoing gendered and normative content biases.
Structural stereotyping in multimodal systems, including image generators: A study published by Aymara AI evaluated 13 large multimodal models which showed gender and occupational stereotypes appearing consistently.
Beyond academic research, we’ve seen increased community participation in shaping the conversation around AI. These include a recent LGBTQ+ user survey from LGBT Tech, which found that while many queer people see real potential for AI to improve access to information and online safety, there are still prevalent concerns around misrepresentation.
Queer artists and creators are also highlighting limitations within generative AI tools. A paper published by various students at Carnegie Mellon University explores how users often need to work around normative defaults in AI systems, whether due to stereotyping, overly restrictive safety filters or narrow aesthetic assumptions.
What this means for industry: standards and governance are beginning to take shape
One of the most exciting developments since our March event is the launch of the very first LGBTQ+ specific AI certification framework, a huge step forward for inclusion in tech! Project ALLYAI developed by LGBT Tech, is the world’s first certification programme designed to assess how well AI systems support and represent LGBTQ+ communities.
The programme uses a five-pillar framework to embed inclusivity throughout AI development:
Advisory board: Diverse experts and community leaders guide certification standards and ensure they stay current and LGBTQ+-focused.
Criteria: Clear requirements ensure inclusive practices from data collection to deployment.
System testing: Real-world testing verifies systems are fair and free of bias, especially for marginalised LGBTQ+ groups.
Publicity: Certified companies gain public recognition for ethical, inclusive AI.
Community feedback: Ongoing input from LGBTQ+ individuals ensures systems stay responsive to real needs.
This marks a pivotal shift from discussing potential harms towards establishing concrete and measurable standards for inclusion.
Looking forward
The past six months have shown meaningful momentum toward more inclusive AI, with growing queer-led research, stronger community engagement and the launch of the first LGBTQ+-specific AI certification framework. But it has also been made clear that there is ongoing process to be made.
The message from March still stands, building AI that works for everyone requires intention with involvement from diverse communities and ensuring that fairness and representation are embedded through these processes.
techUK will continue to convene these conversations and champion efforts that ensure AI delivers equitable, inclusive outcomes for society.
To get involved in the upcoming Tech Together initiatives in March 2026, connect with [email protected].
Harriet Allen
Programme Assistant, Technology and Innovation, techUK
Harriet Allen
Programme Assistant, Technology and Innovation, techUK
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