The AI Generation: Youth in the Artificial Intelligence Era
作者：unitednations
In an era where the digital world is increasingly integral to everyday life, digital literacy has become a life skill, essential for education, employment, and full participation in society. As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes economies and labour markets, young people find themselves at the forefront of both the opportunities and the challenges presented by this rapidly evolving technology.
Adolescent perspectives on AI
In 2020, UNICEF asked 245 adolescents in five countries about their views on AI. Many said that decision-making about AI felt adult-centric, and that they learned about AI at home and among peers, rather than in school. Among the risks identified by adolescents were rising unemployment and increased inequality, driven by concerns that AI might benefit those already in positions of power. At the same time, they acknowledged that AI has the potential to streamline routine tasks and save time.
In 2022, the United Nations Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT) conducted a study with 254 young people from 36 countries to capture their opinions on the future of AI. The report found that:
– 93.2% had a favourable view of AI and robots.
– 68% said they trust AI.
– 80% interacted with AI multiple times a day.
– 76.3% believed AI’s risks were serious, but controllable.
– 75% cited unemployment, and 74.3% cited military use of AI, as top concerns.
– 93% expressed interest in discussing AI use and regulation, and 86% wanted to collaborate with AI in the future.
Both studies underlined that collaboration with young people is essential, as they will likely live in a world where AI is widely used. They deserve a say in what this future will look like.
Youth and digital skills
Young people are the most active internet users. According to Eurostat, in 2024, 97% of EU citizens aged 16-29 years used the internet daily (compared to 88% of the total population). Most use it for communication, social media, and video calls.
The European Union aims for 80% of its population to have at least basic digital skills by 2030. In 2023, over 90% of people in the EU used the internet weekly, but only 56% possessed basic or above-basic digital skills. Meanwhile, businesses are also becoming increasingly digitized. In 2024, nearly all EU businesses (95%) had broadband internet access, and over half used social media and conducted online meetings. 13% of EU businesses adopted AI technologies.
A changing job market
The latest Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), emphasizes that 60% of employers expect technology to have a significant impact on their businesses by 2030, particularly in areas such as AI and information processing. These trends will likely create and eliminate jobs. It is also expected that there will be a high demand for technology skills, especially in areas such as AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy, which are among the three fastest-growing skill areas.
Meanwhile, ILO research suggests generative AI is more likely to augment than automate jobs.
The AI for Good Impact Report, co-authored by the UN Agency for Digital Technologies (ITU) and Deloitte noted that for 94% of global business leaders, AI will be critical to the success of their organizations over the next five years. However, insufficient technical skills, the need for extensive upskilling and reskilling, as well as the need to build trust in new technologies, are among the key barriers to the broader adoption of AI globally.
Digital gaps
While businesses race ahead with digital transformation, many young people are left behind. In 2024, 11% of EU youth (aged 15–29) were not in employment, education, or training (NEET). Globally, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that in 2023, 256 million young people aged 15 to 24 were NEET, which represents 20.4% of the global youth population.
Despite its transformative potential, AI education is still uneven. Many young people learn about AI informally, from friends, online platforms, or personal interest, rather than through formal schooling. The AI divide represents unequal access to, benefits from, and opportunities in AI technology across various regions, communities, and socioeconomic groups. To bridge this gap, embracing and promoting AI literacy is paramount. Global leaders have a crucial role in promoting and encouraging AI literacy, as well as and in developing and implementing local educational programs. Programs tailored to local communities can help young people prepare for the opportunities and changes that will come with AI. Understanding the basics of AI is essential for everyone to thrive in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Closing the AI skills gap
To address these persistent digital gaps, various actors are working on potential solutions. At the beginning of 2025, more than 25 organizations from around the globe (including Amazon and Microsoft) established the AI Skills Coalition, an initiative of ITU to bridge the global AI skills gap and ensure equal worldwide access to AI training. The AI Skills Coalition will serve as an online platform for AI education and capacity building. It also helps to advance the implementation of the UN’s Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact.
Another initiative, Giga, is a collaborative effort between UNICEF and ITU. It aims to bridge the digital divide that leaves millions of children without access to online educational resources. More than 500 million students worldwide lack access to online content, and nearly half of the world’s 6 million schools are not connected. Giga uses AI and machine learning techniques to optimize the planning and delivery of connectivity projects. It aims to create tools and resources that the global community can use.
Fairer digital future
AI is not just transforming the world – it is transforming what it means to be young in the 21st century. While AI has the power to resolve some of humanity’s greatest challenges, these technologies also risk leaving the young, the poor, and the vulnerable far behind. To address this, we need to include young people in all conversations on artificial intelligence. The voices of young people must be at the heart of decision-making processes. Their lived experience, digital fluency, and creativity are powerful assets in shaping a future that is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable.
Young people are not just passive users of AI – they are learners, creators, and future leaders. We need to reinforce their knowledge and critical thinking skills that will empower them to ask the right questions, critically evaluate society, and thoughtfully lead the way into the future.
AI and digital literacy should be integrated into school curricula to foster critical thinking, bridge digital divides between regions and communities, and ensure access to essential tools and resources, particularly in low-income settings. Equipping young people with the right skills, protections, and opportunities is not just beneficial, it is necessary.
As the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said: “Digital education must be human-centered, nurturing not only technical ability, but also creativity, critical thinking, and compassion. And as AI reshapes our world, young people must be seen not just as learners – but as co-creators of a fairer digital future.”
Further reading:
UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Artificial Intelligence
What AI Thinks about its Role in Global Education (UNRIC, 2025)
Adolescent Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (UNICEF, 2021)
AI for Good Impact Report (International Telecommunication Union, 2025)
AI literacy and the new Digital Divide – A Global Call for Action (UNESCO, 2025)
How can young people seize the opportunities of artificial intelligence? (AI for Good, 2025)
Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 (International Labour Organization 2024)
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