Research found that women reported slightly more self-doubt about their abilities, on average. People of any gender can feel this way; the review did not test whether AI helps.
Our take · Humantra-AI
A person can be capable and still doubt themselves. We believe learning should welcome questions without judgement, while employers address real barriers to opportunity. Could supported AI practice help someone attempt an unfamiliar task? That is a question worth exploring, not a proven treatment or a claim that AI closes the gender gap.
More detail and research limits
This meta-analysis combined 115 effect sizes from studies involving more than 40,000 participants. Women reported higher impostor feelings on average than men, with a small average difference (Cohen’s d = 0.27) that varied across contexts. These feelings can affect people of different genders. The review did not test AI or agents as a way to reduce them, and it does not diagnose any individual.
Collection updated 31 October 2026. This is our perspective on independent research, not an endorsement by its publisher or a promise of results.