Why we’re hosting an AI Summit specially for children

This world-first event will give children a platform to express their thoughts on the future of AI

Wednesday 22 Jan 2025

Next month we’ll be hosting the world-first Children’s AI Summit, which will see around 150 children aged 8-18 from across the UK gathering in London to share their thoughts on what the future of AI should look like. 

Putting children’s voices centre stage, the Summit (which is hosted by the Turing’s Children and AI team in partnership with Queen Mary University of London and supported by the LEGO Group, Elevate Great and EY) will also be attended by policymakers, children’s rights experts and AI developers, providing the perfect opportunity to explore how AI impacts children today, and how children want to shape its future. 

Children are growing up in a world where AI is ever more embedded in their daily lives. They are exposed to the technology in everything from baby monitors and smart toys to smartphone apps, social media, streaming platforms and chatbots. 

Yet they are the most underrepresented group in decision-making processes around AI’s design, development and deployment, as well as in the related policymaking and regulatory discussions. That needs to change. 

Our team, part of the Turing’s public policy programme, has been working to advance child-centred approaches to AI since 2021. We have planned an exciting agenda for the Summit, which will take place at Queen Mary University of London on 4 February 2025. 

There will be entertainment and activities including performances by youth theatre groups, a session exploring the impacts of AI on teenagers’ lives online, and a pitching session in which children will share their ideas for how they want to see AI developed. We are delighted to have organisations such as the NSPCC, National Youth Theatre, Teens in AI, and Children’s Media Foundation involved in the Summit, alongside many more. 

A key output of the Summit will be calls to action from the children on what they want to see on the agenda at the Paris AI Action Summit, which takes place a week after the event. Children’s perspectives were missing from previous international summits at Bletchley Park and in Seoul, so we believe that much more can – and should – be done to include children in key discussions. 

We can’t wait to welcome the participants to our event – stay tuned for the outcomes! 

The Children’s AI Summit takes place on 4 February 2025: find out more