London, UK – 8 July 2024 – Teens in AI, an initiative focused on inspiring teens to explore a future in tech and AI through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences is delighted to announce its global annual AI4Good Incubator taking place from 19 to 23 August 2024. With the support of our Platinum Partner, Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll tech for small and mid-sized businesses, we aim to provide youth with the tools and resources they need to drive innovation and make a difference in their communities.
Teens in AI’s partnership with Sage is powered by Sage Foundation, which enables Sage colleagues and partners to tackle inequality and create access to opportunity in its communities through volunteering and fundraising. Through the AI4Good Incubator, Teens in AI and Sage Foundation hope to harness technology to create a fairer and more diverse tech industry 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). 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.
Aaron Harris, Chief Technology Officer at Sage, comments: “Our partnership with Teens in AI is a crucial element of our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. By supporting this initiative, we aim to nurture a diverse and future-ready generation of tech talent. We hope that the next wave of AI researchers, business leaders, and technologists will not only be inspired by this program but also motivated to apply their skills and knowledge to address critical issues such as climate change. My colleagues and I eagerly anticipate learning from and collaborating with the participants, making a meaningful impact on our many diverse communities.”
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.
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.“
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.
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/.
~ Ends ~
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.
** World Meteorological Organization March 2024 Report: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo#:~:text=Observed%20concentrations%20of%20the%20three,trapping%20heat%20in%20the%20atmosphere
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
