11–16-year-olds to shape the conversation about AI

Northumbria University has launched the Hopeful Futures AI Challenge. The national exhibition challenge invites young people aged 11-16 to imagine and shape the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The challenge is being led by a team of AI researchers at Northumbria University and funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Empowering young people to shape AI’s future

The challenge recognises that young people will be the generation most affected by AI technologies. However, their voices are also often absent from conversations about how AI should develop. The initiative aims to change this by placing youth perspectives at the centre of discussions about AI-enabled futures.

The Hopeful Futures AI Challenge asks teams to imagine the Global Future Tourism Board has hired them. They must promote what life in 2050 could look like to people living today in 2025.

Participants will create an exciting travel experience in the form of a travel brochure, blog, social media campaign, or video. It should highlight a hopeful future through one of three key themes: Environmental Futures, The Future of Learning and Healthcare (including mental health and wellbeing).

Imagining hopeful futures through creative innovation

Professor Pam Briggs, project lead, said:

“Young people are growing up in a world where AI is increasingly shaping their education, healthcare, entertainment, and future careers, yet they’re rarely asked what they want that future to look like. This challenge is about flipping that script and saying: your voice matters, your imagination matters, and we want to hear your hopes for how AI can make the world better. By focusing on real-world scenarios such as climate change and mental health and wellbeing, we’re empowering young people to think critically and creatively about the role AI can play in solving the challenges that matter most to them and their generation.”

Registration for the challenge is open to schools and youth organisations now. Entries close on Friday 13 February 2026 at 4pm. Once registered, participants can access downloadable resources to help teams develop their ideas. The Northumbria team will curate submissions into both virtual and physical exhibitions across the North East of England in March 2026. This will include a pop-up fictional travel agency.

Driving citizen‑centred and responsible AI research

The Hopeful Futures AI Challenge is made possible through Northumbria’s Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence (CCAI). UKRI funds this initiative, and the research centre develops fair, transparent AI systems that benefit ordinary people by involving them directly in the design process.

CCAI includes a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) that trains PhD researchers. It also has a broader Centre for Responsible AI. Its mission is to ensure technology serves all citizens equally. The work addresses real-world challenges across various sectors, including health, education, and public services.