The summit took place in New York on August 12 to mark International Youth Day, as children adopt AI technologies more than three times faster than adults.
Participants examined the opportunities and risks created by AI across education, employment and public life before presenting a Youth-led Declaration on AI Policy and Governance.
The declaration is expected to inform future UN initiatives, including the Global Digital Compact and broader efforts to establish inclusive international standards for AI.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier said young people will live longest with the consequences of decisions made about the technology. “Young people are sometimes included in these conversations, but they’re actually included only at a few moments,” Paullier said.
“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.”
Dominica Ambassador Philbert Aaron said AI governance extends far beyond the technical development of new systems.
“This is not simply a conversation about technology,” Aaron said. “It is a conversation about power, dignity, opportunity, culture and the future we choose to build together.”
Delegates also discussed the risk of developing countries being excluded from the AI transition because of limited electricity, digital infrastructure, computing capacity, finance, knowledge and technical skills.
Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail warned that technological advances would not automatically improve living standards.
“Technological progress will not automatically translate into human progress if developing countries lack access to the infrastructure, computing capacity, skills, finance and knowledge,” Mandokhail said.
Paullier said AI development remains concentrated among a small number of companies in wealthier countries. “We want AI to help to reduce inequalities, not to deepen inequalities,” Paullier said.
The summit took place as the International Labour Organisation warned that global youth unemployment is worsening. About 6.1% of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes.
Delegates said AI should help young people develop skills and access opportunities rather than simply displace workers.
“The future of AI should not simply happen to your generation. Your generation must actually help shape it,” Mandokhail said.
Mandokhail urged young people to “learn, question, innovate and lead” to help build fairer societies, stronger communities and a more sustainable world.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
