Youth advocates gather in New York to launch new AI standards
Young Voices Shape Global AI Governance at UN Summit
Qinilo.com – More than 600 young delegates convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, gathering to explore how artificial intelligence can advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The summit coincided with International Youth Day, an annual celebration held since 2000 on August 12 that honors the vital role young people play as partners in global society.
Children are embracing AI technology at a rate exceeding that of adults by more than threefold, creating both unprecedented opportunities and distinctive challenges. As this rapid adoption continues, the need for thoughtful governance has become increasingly urgent.
A Declaration for the Future
Following extensive workshops and discussions coordinated by the International Organization of Youth, delegates unveiled a Youth-led Declaration on AI Policy and Governance. This document will guide upcoming UN initiatives aimed at establishing global AI governance frameworks, particularly within the context of the Global Digital Compact.
The gathering extends earlier UN work to incorporate youth perspectives into AI decision-making, building upon initiatives such as the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the International Telecommunication Union's Youth Advisory Board, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum.
Voices from the Room
Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier emphasized that the generation present would bear the longest consequences of AI development. He noted that International Youth Day offers a valuable platform to hear from diverse young voices about how AI might better serve humanity's future.
"Young people are sometimes included in these conversations, but they're actually included only at a few moments," Mr. Paullier observed. "Meaningful youth participation is not about being consulted in a tokenistic way at the end of a process. It's about involving them at the beginning."
Samara Allen, a nineteen-year-old University of California-Los Angeles student, opened the proceedings as moderator, demonstrating the leadership capacity of young people in AI discussions.
Ambassadors and UN officials stressed that because youth will experience AI's impacts for the longest duration, they deserve meaningful roles in establishing worldwide AI standards.
"This is not simply a conversation about technology," Ambassador of Dominica Philbert Aaron declared. "It is a conversation about power, dignity, opportunity, culture and the future we choose to build together."
Ensuring Equitable Progress
While focusing on youth empowerment, summit participants also addressed broader inclusion concerns. Ambassadors from the Bahamas and Dominica assisted in organizing the event, with representatives from Pakistan and Tonga also participating in discussions about preventing developing nations from falling behind during the AI transition.
"Technological progress will not automatically translate into human progress if developing countries lack access to the infrastructure, computing capacity, skills, finance and knowledge," said Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, governor of Pakistan's Balochistan region.
Mr. Paullier expressed concern that AI development remains largely controlled by a handful of corporations headquartered in wealthier nations, emphasizing that governance must become more inclusive.
"We want AI to help to reduce inequalities, not to deepen inequalities," he stated.
Broader Context and Challenges
In a Wednesday statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres celebrated the "creativity, dynamism and leadership of young people everywhere." He acknowledged that youth confront numerous obstacles, including economic instability, digital inclusion gaps, and climate change, while affirming UN support for their efforts to gain greater influence in decision-making.
Preceding the summit, the International Labour Organization released findings indicating that global youth unemployment is deteriorating following a post-pandemic recovery, with millions struggling to secure their first employment.
The report revealed that 6.1 percent of positions currently occupied by individuals aged fifteen to twenty-nine belong to categories most vulnerable to AI disruption, potentially displacing millions more within coming years.
Speakers concluded that summit participants represent some of the strongest advocates for ensuring AI empowers rather than replaces human workers, while facilitating skill development.
"The future of AI should not simply happen to your generation. Your generation must actually help shape it," Mr. Mandokhail told the delegates.
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