According to a new children’s manifesto, children and young people want better education around artificial intelligence to improve understanding and maximise its use.

The newly-published manifesto has been created following the world’s first Children’s AI Summit, organised by national data and AI institute The Alan Turing Institute alongside Queen Mary, University of London.

The report, which highlights the ideas and views from the 150 children who attended the summit, shows their concerns and thoughts on AI are centred on the three key areas of: education, the environment, and health and wellbeing.

For instance, they would like AI to be used as a tool for supporting education, including personalised learning, helping children to learn in ways that work for them. However, they’re conscious that an over reliance could impact key skills around creativity and problem solving.

The children would also like AI harnessed to advance scientific research, and especially around the environment. That said, they’re concerned about its negative impact on the environment—and want leaders to commit to clean energy sources for the powering of AI.

Further, they want AI to be used to help ensure the safety of children both online and offline. For example, utilising AI to detect signs of cyberbullying. They also think it should be developed to make healthcare and medicine better, and help support children and young people with their mental health.

Looking forward, they want adults to think about the experiences and needs of children and put measures in place to make sure AI is safe for children, and laws to guarantee that it’s developed and used ethically.

“Children and young people continue to demonstrate a strong understanding of how AI could be used for good, as well as the risks it can pose to their safety and wellbeing,” said Dr Mhairi Aitken, senior ethics fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Aitken is presenting the manifesto at the Paris AI Action Summit today alongside a young person who attended the Children’s AI Summit.

“But until today, their voices have not been part of crucial discussions about the creation of AI policy and regulations.

“That’s why we’re so pleased and proud to be bringing their views to the Paris AI Action Summit today. We hope that this manifesto will help decision makers better understand the unique challenges they face and highlight the importance of listening to their views.”

Recommended reading

• How Do Authors Feel About AI Being Trained On Their Work?
• New Records Show UK Councils Using AI to Support Citizens
• AI Is The Fastest Growing Skill in the UK

Professor Colin Bailey CBE, president and principal of Queen Mary University of London, further commented: “As with all emerging technologies, it’s important that policies and regulations are developed which support the safe and ethical use of AI.

“It’s also vital that the voices of all impacted by the use of this technology are heard and considered when developing these policy regulations. For too long the voices of children, whose education, careers and lives will be most impacted by AI, have been left out of conversations regarding the use of AI. This has to change!

“That’s why I’m so proud Queen Mary University has partnered with The Alan Turing Institute to put children’s voices at the heart of discussions about how AI impacts their lives, today and in the future.”