Youthinfo.ai: AI-Driven Innovation in Youth Information

ongoing

Youthinfo.ai is an initiative empowering youth information workers and indirectly impacting the young individuals they engage with daily. The project aims to help youth information workers deliver their work better through the safe and effective application of AI. The strategy focuses on equipping youth information coordinating structures and organisations with tools to respond to dynamic changes introduced by AI and augmenting the capacity of youth information workers (YIW) to comprehend AI features, nuances, including biases in algorithms. The implications for ethics, fairness, and information accuracy will be tackled through a participative approach, unlocking AI's full potential to meet evolving needs. Concrete examples through chatbots as information and conversation tools between YIW and young people will give a practical perspective of AI. Extensive research on AI in youth information will be conducted, and youth information workers can deliver personalised, accessible, and innovative support services to young people.The work comprises essential components: desk research and user research on how knowledgeable youth info workers are on AI, on ethics and the use of chatbots as an AI tool for more inclusivity. The project will enhance YIW knowledge and skills by providing a series of webinars on AI, ethics and chatbots and a training on AI and automation. The guidelines on ethics and the use of chatbots based on a testing phase will provide concrete recommendations for a safe and helpful use of AI in youth info work. The national dissemination event and final seminars will create synergies with policymakers, other youth organisations and other relevant stakeholders. In summary, youthinfo.ai aims to understand how European YIW can benefit from AI in their work as a helpful assistant and not a competitor. It will empower youth information workers to use AI tools in promoting democratic values, civic engagement, and informed decision-making among young people.