Actionable guidelines to educate, empower and protect children and youth in the age of artificial intelligence​

The challenge 

From robotic toys and social media to the classroom and home, artificial intelligence (AI) is now ubiquitous in the daily life of a child. Despite the many promising benefits of AI for children, special precautions must be taken to protect society’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised demographic. ​

Issues of privacy are also compounded by questions about the impact of AI-powered toys on cognitive development. Is it necessary to protect traditional play or is early exposure to AI useful for children engaging with AI in school and later the workplace? What is developmentally appropriate technology? ​

AI-enabled devices are increasingly able to manipulate and become addictive to users, and children are particularly susceptible. In the absence of clear guidelines, parents and caregivers are left to make decisions about products with incomplete information and complex implications for their children’s health and privacy. As more AI for children comes on to the market, all relevant stakeholders need to construct mechanisms to protect children while enabling “precision education” and other benefits of AI. ​

The opportunity 

The World Economic Forum’s Platform for Shaping the Future of Technology Governance: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), LEGO, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and others to address this urgent challenge. This multistakeholder community of governments, academics, businesses, civil society organizations and youth representatives is working together to develop best practices for the governance of AI used by children and young people, including helping UNICEF develop its Policy Guidance on AI for Children.

The project’s multiple activities focus on three strategic pillars: 

Educate: Develop frameworks and toolkits to educate and inspire children, adolescents, parents and guardians around the responsible use of AI. 

Empower: Empower children and young people with AI skills to create their own technology to improve the state of the world with an emphasis on underrepresented voices.

Protect: Protect and expand children’s human rights and civil liberties when encountering AI in their homes, schools and public places. 

AI Youth Council

The inaugural AI Youth Council is a global group comprising young people interested in AI. Members serve as part of the project community and work to co-create governance guidelines.

Smart Toy Awards

The Forum has established the Smart Toy Awards to recognize ethically and responsibly designed AI-powered toys that create an innovative and healthy play experience for children. Using governance criteria established by the Generation AI community, the awards aim to inspire toy and game-makers to harness the developmental promise of AI to promote adaptive creativity and individualized learning.

How to engage 

Nominate a toy: Submit a toy for consideration to the Smart Toy Awards

Pilot: Use the toolkit in your organization and provide feedback in a continuing iterative process.

Fellow: Nominate an individual from your company to work at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to play an integral role in shaping this initiative.