Key figures involved include Sheryl Sandberg, who warns the gap will compound and exacerbate biases, and new 25-year-old CEO Bridget Griswold, appointed to lead Lean In's pivot to closing the AI gender gap through research, resources, and upskilling.[1][2][4][7] The organization announced this focus on March 24, 2026, amid prior studies like Harvard/Stanford/Berkeley's finding women 20% less likely to use generative AI.[original]
This builds on 2025 reports showing women overrepresented in AI-vulnerable jobs (3x more automatable) and underrepresented in AI engineering, with biases internalized via less mentorship.[1][2][3] Newsworthy now as AI reshapes careers—proficiency is a top employer skill—and small gaps risk widening into lost leadership opportunities for women, prompting calls for company action.[3][6] Coverage surged in early April 2026 across Fortune, Axios, and others.[2][4][6]