A global annual campaign highlighting the need for diversity and equitable representation within the tech and AI industries.
14 locations across the world join Teens in AI to use AI for good to tackle inequality, today.
London, United Kingdom, 1 February 2023 – In celebration of and solidarity with International Women’s Day, Teens in AI will host its sixth annual IWD Global Hackathon from February to March 2023. This global annual campaign aims to highlight the need for diversity and equitable representation within the tech and AI industries. The goal of #IWD2023 Global Hackathon is to bring together teens, aged 12-18, from varying backgrounds with a focus on underrepresented communities and create opportunities for them to gain exposure to the skills of the future. Teens have opportunities to network, engage with mentors from platinum partners Sage and Capgemini as well as work on exciting projects to find solutions to some of the key UN SDGs.
According to Teens in AI Founder & CEO, Elena Sinel, “The disparities relating to diversity and representation that currently exist within the AI and tech industries need to be addressed to ensure that the future of these industries is representative of the people who use them and do not perpetuate the clear biases we still see today. This is why our goal is to bring the skills to teens from all backgrounds, ethnicities and genders early on, exposing them to the capabilities for social good that technology has to offer. There is no better time than right now to #EmbraceEquity”.
The Stanford HAI’s AI Index Diversity Report, has noted that women have over the last 10 years made up less than 19% of graduates within the AI and Computer Science fields. Ethnic minorities representation in 2021 had been reported to account for only 22% of the tech workforce according to statistics collated by Capgemini. These figures are testament to the long road that lies ahead in transforming the industry from a grassroots level. “Diversity in AI should not be a number to be reached. It is way more than a matter of fundamental equity, it is also a powerful lever of value creation. The entire underrepresented population must be part of the change that AI is creating. And this starts from a very early age. By partnering with Teens in AI, we aim to create this positive impact and ensure that AI is in the hands of everybody,” said Anne-Laure Thibaud, EVP, Data & AI Group Offer Leader, Capgemini.
The IWD2023 Global Hackathon will see participants immersed in a challenging, hands-on tech experience that allows them to explore careers in AI, data science and design thinking; and learn how these emerging fields intersect with other industries. “We’re thrilled to be partnering again this year (2023) with Teens In AI. This is a great way to address gender diversity in the AI industry by investing time and energy in the next generation of tech leaders. Every time I interact with Teens In AI, I come away humbled and amazed by the energy, creativity, and passion for doing good I see in the teenagers this great organisation reaches”, said Aaron Harris, Chief Technology Officer at Sage.
World-class mentors and expert panellists, who are industry leaders in their respective fields, will help the participants develop project ideas to tackle specific UN SDGs and provide them with insights on how to make their projects successful. The participants will have an opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in technology as well as gain exposure to various industries.
Not only will the participants get to interact with mentors but they will have a chance to participate in Inspiration week which will run from 20 – 24 February 2023. The week will provide an opportunity to gain insights on tech industry careers as well as entrepreneurial journeys and both professional and personal stories from leaders in various careers.
The culmination of all the activities throughout the IWD2023 Global Hackathon will be the Global Demo Day on March 8th, 2023. The Global Demo Day is the platform where the winning teams from the various regions get to present their projects and compete in a friendly and inspirational environment. This event will be livestreamed giving an opportunity to supporters across the world to see the projects that are being built by the young innovators.
IWD2023 Global Hackathon by Teens in AI in partnership with platinum partners Capgemini and Sage, who play an integral role in the experience, mentoring and supporting the participants throughout the programme will run from February – March 2023. For more details visit www.teensinai.com/global-hack/ or simply follow along on social media!
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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. 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]
Visit our website for further information: www.teensinai.com
Visit our Social Media channels: linktr.ee/TeensinAI
