‘Misogyny with a marketing budget’: UK AI firm accused of sexist advert

An AI company which recently secured millions of pounds of investment has been accused of running a misogynistic and sexist advertising campaign.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received at least seven complaints about the campaign by Narwhal Labs, which includes an advert depicting a woman next to the strapline: “She outworks everyone. And she’ll never ask for a raise.”

The ad continues: “Meet your new AI employee. Always on, never sick and no HR required.”

The Guardian understands the complaints received by the ASA challenge whether the ads are misogynistic and are currently being assessed to determine whether there are grounds for further action, although a formal investigation has not been launched.

The adverts for the Bristol-based company can be found online as well as on large banners above the bag drop at Bristol airport.

Another ad featuring the same woman states: “Working 9-5?” She works 24/7. And she starts for free.”

Rebecca Horne, the head of communications and campaigns at Pregnant Then Screwed, which campaigns to end discrimination in the workplace, said: “This advert is misogyny with a marketing budget, a textbook case of sexist labour stereotypes dressed up as ‘innovation’.

“It pushes the toxic idea that the ideal worker is a woman who is endlessly available, compliant, unpaid and without needs. It exposes how deeply sexism is baked into our workplaces and now into our technology.

“When you sell a ‘perfect worker’ as a woman who never rests or asks for more, you’re not selling progress, you’re selling the same old misogyny in a shiny new wrapper. It’s a reminder that our culture still expects women, especially mothers, to work harder for less and never complain.”

Another of the ads under the campaign features a black man with a moustache and a tagline playing on the lyrics of a Lionel Richie song. It reads: “Hello, is it leads you’re looking for? He’ll find them, call them, and follow up. While you sleep.”

Earlier this month, Narwhal Labs said it had received £20m in an investment funding round, which reportedly included backing from Jonathan Swann, a former director of the specialist insurance provider CFC Underwriting. Swann has been approached for comment.

The company has developed a platform called DeepBlue OS, which uses agentic AI to handle inquiries, contacts, appointments and documents without human intervention. Agentic AI differs from generative AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, in that it acts without needing to be asked a question by a human.

A statement from Narwhal Labs, which was founded in 2022 by Luke Sartain, said: “We understand the strength of feeling our campaign has generated … It was never our intention for the billboards to be perceived as misogynistic or racist, and we take that concern seriously.