Over the past several years, technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) have started changing our daily lives. Innovations are rolled out at an accelerated pace, not only in professional working environments but also at home and in schools. In some parts of the world, AI is already enhancing the field of education by enabling a more customizable approach to teaching and learning. Additionally, AI technologies have begun to change the landscape of health and well-being, particularly within the area of mental health. However, AI also creates challenges for young people around privacy and safety, transparency and accountability, and bias and discrimination.
Youth and Artificial Intelligence: Where We Stand by members of the Youth and Media team highlights some of the team’s initial learnings and exploratory questions around the ways young people (ages 12-18) may interact with and be impacted by AI technologies. In the context of AI and youth, the paper takes stock of what we know — and what we don’t know — across domains such as education, health and well-being, the future of work, privacy and safety, and creativity and entertainment.
The YaM team hopes that the short paper may inform different stakeholders — including policymakers, educators, and parents and caregivers — to ask the right questions and encourage all of us to further discuss how young people can be empowered to meaningfully engage with AI-based technologies to promote and bolster learning, creative expression, and well-being, while also addressing key challenges and concerns.
This paper is one of the YaM team’s “spotlights” — short briefing documents that showcase the ways youth engage with the digital landscape, and what opportunities and challenges emerge from it.
