Generation AI and UNICEF
Vicki Reyzelman
Artificial Intelligence Evangelist and Enterprise Architecture Lead - Opinions are my Own
"While there are many uncertainties around Artificial Intelligence, we know that it will impact almost every part of our lives, and that in many cases the impacts will be greatest for children - from how they are conceived and born, to the services they can access, and how they learn, to the jobs they will train for." Generation AI
Sumi Singh, Ph.D. advises UNICEF India on the best way to help address children's immediate needs today and prepare them for tomorrow's challenges and opportunities using Generative AI. In the video podcast Episode 5 of Chat About AI she covers the following main points:
Future Job Landscape: 65% of students entering elementary school today will eventually work in jobs yet to be invented
Digital Poverty and the widespread digital divide
It's imperative to equip children with skills that transcend traditional academic boundaries, like adaptability, creativity, and a grasp of technologies, notably AI.
UNICEF policy states that an inclusive design approach that embraces the participation of young users, their parents and local communities in the life cycle of an AI project, is critical for children’s empowerment and for responsible AI innovation. If children are going to interact with AI systems, for instance by sharing their stories and emotions with a companion robot, their perspectives and preferences must be included in the design process, so that the AI application not only fits their needs, but respect their rights. UNICEF’s policy guidance recommends that children should be in a position to use AI products or services, regardless of their age, gender identities, geographic and cultural diversity.
Dr. Singh asks us to be a part of the solution to help children embrace AI through:
➡ Personalized Learning: AI-driven platforms can tailor education to individual students' strengths, weaknesses, and pace, ensuring optimal learning experiences.
➡ Digital Literacy Augmentation: AI tools can intuitively guide children through digital tasks, improving their digital literacy.
➡ Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Integration: AI-driven VR and AR tools can immerse students in interactive learning environments, making complex concepts more tangible.
Please listen to episode 5 with Dr. Sumi Singh on UNICEF creating value with AI for children.