Girls Who Code Launches "Speak On It" Giving Youth a Say on AI

Creator-led campaign featuring a "Hot Take Hotline" aims to spark conversation around an inclusive future for AI

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls Who Code is giving the microphone to girls and nonbinary youth to share their feelings and opinions on AI through its new campaign Speak On It.Currently, 71% of the AI workforce is men, creating a gender gap in the development and use of this technology. Speak On It aims to amplify youth voices and help them see themselves as active creators of AI.

"Speak On It amplifies the voices of girls and nonbinary youth 一 the very people being left out of the rooms where AI is being created," said Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. "We believe AI can be a force for good, but only if it reflects the voices and values of all people. We need to prepare the next generation to shape AI responsibly, ethically, and creatively."

Created in collaboration with creative agency Schaaf, the month-long campaign features:

• Creators, including Brooke Barone and Michelle Lawson, share their candid views on AI to encourage girls and nonbinary youth to step into the arena as makers and critics.
• LizaBanks , creator, comedian and NYC tour guide, took to the streets at the New York Film Festival and New York Comic Con to gather everyday perspectives on AI.
• A special episode of the TikTok show Are You Okay? (premiering October 20) will extend the conversation.
• The Hot Take Hotline (320‑HOT‑TAKE) provides a platform to text thoughts on AI. Select takes will be featured on the Speak On It website to spark broader dialogue and action.

In addition, the report Youth & AI: What Young Women Think About Generative AIpresents the findings of a study conducted with UCLA, exploring how Gen Z girls and nonbinary youth view generative AI and its influence on their identities, futures, and actions.

Follow the campaign at speakonit.ai and Girls Who Code's Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

About Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology. The organization has served over 760,000 students and is at the forefront of equipping the next generation to thrive in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Girls Who Code's work has generated 14.9 billion impressions globally, with notable campaigns such as Doja Code, the world's first codeable music video with Doja Cat.

Contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE Girls Who Code