For nearly 30 years, Fortune Most Powerful Women has brought together women at the top of the business world to connect, learn, and discuss the most pressing issues of the day. For even longer than that, Gloria Steinem has been creating spaces for women from all walks of life to do the same. At 92, she still opens her home several times a month for her famous “Talking Circle.” In this circle, a group of women sit in their living rooms (often cross-legged on the floor) and discuss a topic. The topic can be anything from paid family leave to girls’ education and empowerment. Always focus on listening to others.
My colleagues Ellie Austin, Alison Shontell, and I had the pleasure of co-hosting a Talk Circle with Steinem this week at his home in Manhattan, bringing together members of the Fortune MPW community to discuss AI and its impact on business and society. It’s a topic Steinem readily admits she’s no expert on, but her talk circles are more about listening and learning than talking, and she wanted to learn more about the transformative impact of this technology. The Gloria Foundation, which works to preserve Steinem’s home as a center of heritage and historical connections, launched a residency program this year. Erin Grau, co-founder of Charter, and Karin Klein, founding partner of Bloomberg Beta, are the first residents of this AI-focused program, and their support made this circle possible.
There were different perspectives in the room. Executives of the world’s largest technology companies. AI and technology executives working in legacy industries such as media, retail, finance, and entertainment to help these companies adapt. Leaders working to realize the most transformative impact of AI in treating disease. All agreed that it was important for women to be at the center of these conversations. Steinem said: “If half the world is not represented, we cannot make decisions for that half.”
However, this does not mean that the view towards AI was completely rosy. The group raised real concerns, including a dire warning that the U.S. has less than a year to find a better way to regulate AI businesses before the long-term impact on the workforce becomes irreversible. (Ideas include taxes on AI agents equal to employer taxes on human workers.)
The women in this room collectively oversee hundreds of thousands of employees. We also heard practical advice for helping your workforce upskill for the AI era. Make space for everyone to study for 30 minutes each day. Find people within your organization who will hold you accountable for your progress. Even better if the person is more knowledgeable than you and can help you along the way.
During most of this discussion, Steinem listened. She then shared her takeaways from the conversation. “What I learned today is how many smart, diverse, amazing, amazing women there are in AI and the workforce in general, and I’m so proud to meet them.”
We were proud to be there with her.
emma hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
The “Most Powerful Women Daily” newsletter is luck’A daily briefing for and about the women leading the world of business. Subscribe here.
Also featured in the headline
Great long interview with Katie Couric about the evolution of media. Regarding her presence in the thread, she asked, “Is it permissible to refuse a mission?” after that new york times “I think I’ve earned the right to express my opinion from time to time. People find it funny that I’m outspoken and sometimes a little bit sheepish,” he said in a profile of Lauren Sanchez Bezos, who responded to a clip from Melania Trump’s documentary, saying, “I’m riveted.”
Esther Wojcicki appears on the latest episode of the Term Sheet Podcast. The late Susan Wojcicki’s mother, 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki, and her sister Janet, an anthropologist and epidemiologist, offer the TRICK method for raising happy and successful children: Trust, Respect, Independence, Cooperation, and Kindness.
Not everyone is happy with Lululemon’s choice of Heidi O’Neal as CEO. After the announcement, the company’s stock price fell more than 12%. Activist Elliott Investment Management wanted to name former Ralph Lauren chief operating officer Jane Nielsen as CEO.
How OpenAI can generate more revenue. of new york times A look at Sam Altman’s next big challenge. At the heart of this are executive Fiji Simo (who oversees about half of the company) and chief financial officer Sarah Friar.
on my radar
How professional wrestling prepared Linda McMahon for Trump’s cabinet new yorker
Life is not easy in the OnlyFans economy atlantic ocean
Epstein’s Rise of the Democratic Party new yorker
parting words
“When the inspiration strikes me to create another story, I have to create it, because something in my brain says, ‘I have something to do for you. Get up and do it.'”
—Michaela Cole talks about her motivations for writing. now she is appearing virgin mary With Anne Hathaway.
