London, UK – 8 July 2024 – Teens in AI, a social impact-driven initiative that inspires teens to explore a future in responsible tech and AI through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences, is delighted to announce the third edition of its global annual AI4Good Incubator taking place from 19 to 23 August 2024. Teens in AI believes in harnessing technology to create a fair world where everyone has equal opportunity to maximise their potential.
The AI4Good Incubator is a global 5-day virtual bootcamp style programme where teens aged 12-18 work in teams to build ethical AI-driven projects that address real-world problems inspired by a climate-related United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). With the support of our Platinum Partner, Sage powered by Sage Foundation, we aim to provide youth with the tools and resources they need to drive innovation and make a difference in their communities.
Also partnering this year is The Alan Turing Institute. As part of this collaboration, Dr Mhairi Aitken, Morgan Briggs and Sabeehah Mahomed from the Institute’s Public Policy Programme will deliver an “Introduction to AI Ethics” Masterclass to participants. This masterclass is a foundational guide to responsible innovation, exploring the landscape of AI Ethics, unravelling AI myths, and emphasising core AI ethics principles, particularly in safeguarding children’s rights under the UNCRC.
Participants from around the world will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded youth and receive mentoring and guidance from industry experts. This year’s AI4Good Incubator aims to expand the programme across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The programme is open to everyone, regardless of background or experience with AI. The highly anticipated event will see young people come together to learn the vital skills needed to drive responsible innovation to solve today’s problems using cutting-edge technologies. Last year, 59% of the participants identified as female and non-binary, with 73% indicating they are from diverse ethnic backgrounds*. Together with Sage, we believe that diversity is essential to driving innovation and solving today’s most pressing issues.
Dr Mhairi Aitken, Ethics Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute commented: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Teens in AI for the 2024 AI4Good Incubator which places a strong emphasis on AI ethics in equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to lead the way in responsible innovation for today and tomorrow. This collaboration is a unique opportunity bringing together young people from around the world to foster deeper understandings of the importance of AI ethics and responsible innovation among young innovators.”
The topic for this year’s AI4Good Incubator is ‘Climate Action’, SDG 13 – one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals – which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects. The theme for this year is “Green Minds, Bright Futures”.
A March 2024 report by the World Meteorological Organization** highlights urgent climate change concerns. Record-high global carbon dioxide levels drive temperatures 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, exacerbating extreme weather. Biodiversity loss threatens one million species, while melting ice caps accelerate sea level rise. Climate disruptions compound food insecurity, displacing 22.5 million people yearly. Initiatives like the AI4Good Incubator aim to foster innovative climate solutions whilst also promoting sustainable AI development, crucial for mitigating carbon emissions.
Last year, 59% of the participants identified as female and non-binary, with 73% indicating they are from diverse ethnic backgrounds*. Together with Sage, we believe that diversity is essential to driving innovation and solving today’s most pressing issues.
Teens in AI Founder and CEO, Elena Sinel, comments: “At Teens in AI, we believe in the power of young minds to drive positive change in the world. With the AI4Good Incubator focusing on climate action this year, we’re empowering teens to harness the potential of responsible AI for the betterment of our planet. Through collaborative innovation and mentorship, we’re fostering a generation of ethical tech leaders committed to building a sustainable future.“
Sage and The Alan Turing Institute are committed to supporting the AI4Good Incubator, aligning with our mission to empower the next generation of ethical tech leaders by providing them with the knowledge and tools needed to drive positive social impact through technology.
Participants will have the chance to develop their projects with the support of industry experts and mentors. At the end of the programme, they will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to senior leadership for feedback and compete for prizes. Previous prizes have included the chance to pitch at one of our corporate partners’ events and an invitation to attend the annual International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI4Good Global Summit, a gathering of industry leaders, policymakers and academics to discuss the ethical and practical implications of AI and its impact on society.
The August programme runs for five full days, from 9am to 5pm BST. Due to the exclusive nature of the event, there is a fee for participants, however, Teens in AI does offer Grants to eligible students. If you’re interested in learning more about the AI4Good Incubator, visit our website (link below).
This year’s Incubator follows the launch earlier this year of Teens in AI’s AI Adventures programme, its online self-paced courses – where young minds learn to think critically and solve real-world problems using AI responsibly for the greater good. (For more information, visit https://www.teensinai.com/courses/.)
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Notes:
* Diverse ethnic backgrounds = Black/African American, Hispanic, Latino/Spanish, Middle Eastern/North African and Asian; the balance includes ‘Other Ethnic Background Not Stated’, ‘Prefer Not To Say’, and White/Caucasian.
Teens in AI's AI4Good Incubator Programme 2024
The August programme runs for five full days, from 9am to 5pm BST. This programme is hosted in the United Kingdom and delivered in English.
Due to the exclusive nature of the event, there is a fee for participants, however, Teens in AI does offer Grants to eligible students. If you’re interested in learning more about the AI4Good Incubator, visit our website:
About Teens in AI
Launched in 2018 at the United Nations AI for Good Global Summit, Teens in AI is a social impact-driven initiative that inspires teens to explore a future in tech and AI through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences. Since its inception, Teens in AI has been instrumental in guiding over 15,000 young minds across 60 countries, leading initiatives that resonate with UN Sustainable Development Goals. It provides teens, aged 12 to 18, the platform and knowledge to create AI solutions with societal benefit at their core. They believe in harnessing technology to create a fair world where everyone has equal opportunity to maximise their potential. By encouraging diverse perspectives, Teens in AI acts as a catalyst for change, inspiring the next generation of responsible leaders, innovators, and technologists from all walks of life to shape the world of tomorrow.
For more information please contact:
Media enquiries: Bev Chislett, Head of Marketing, Teens in AI [email protected]
About Sage
Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of small and mid-sized Businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis.
For more information please contact:
Visit Sage’s website for further information: www.sage.com
About The Alan Turing Institute
The Alan Turing Institute, headquartered at the British Library in London, is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. Established in 2015, the Institute was named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for modern computing. With a mission to advance world-class research, build essential skills, and drive an informed public conversation, the Institute collaborates across disciplines to tackle global challenges through data science and AI. By uniting academia, industry, and government, The Alan Turing Institute is dedicated to making the UK a global leader in these transformative technologies, ensuring they are developed and applied for the public good.
For more information please contact:
Visit the Institute’s website for further information: www.turing.ac.uk
