Northumbria Uni launches national AI challenge focused on young people's futures
Northumbria University has launched the Hopeful Futures AI Challenge, a new competition for 11- to 16-year-olds across the UK. The initiative encourages young people to explore how artificial intelligence could shape learning, health, and the environment by 2050. Funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, the challenge aims to bring youth voices into discussions about responsible AI development.
The competition is part of Northumbria’s broader Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence initiative. This programme includes a doctoral training centre and a research hub focused on ethical AI applications in education, health, and public services. Organisers stress the importance of fairness, transparency, and public involvement in designing AI systems.
Participants are asked to create promotional materials—such as brochures or short videos—that highlight AI’s positive impact in one of three areas: environmental futures, learning, or healthcare. The best entries will be displayed both online and in physical exhibitions across the North East of England in March 2026. The challenge reflects the university’s commitment to community engagement, particularly in the North East. By inviting young people to share their visions, the initiative seeks to foster a more inclusive conversation about AI’s role in society.
The Hopeful Futures AI Challenge gives young people a platform to influence how AI develops in the coming decades. Winning entries will be showcased regionally, offering participants a chance to see their ideas reach a wider audience. The project underscores the growing effort to integrate public perspectives into the future of technology.
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