This January, CONNECT attended the consultative meeting “How Confident?… Artificial Intelligence, Young People and Youth Work” at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, organised by the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is the leading human right organisation in the European continent, and has been increasingly active in the field of AI, having promoted the first international convention on the matter. This event brought together youth work professionals, human rights educators, AI specialists, and policymakers to examine the impact of generative AI on young people and youth work.

Discussions focused on the opportunities and risks posed by AI, particularly concerning human rights, education, and equitable access for young people. Participants explored ways to align AI developments with the Council of Europe’s standards, ensuring that technological advancements respect democratic values and empower youth. The meeting included lectures by experts, workshops and produced a set of recommendations.

The event highlighted the critical need for collaboration between stakeholders in navigating AI’s complexities and represented a valuable platform to share best practices, knowledge and perspective on the role of young people in technological innovation. In particular, CONNECT shared its expertise on the perspective of youth workers on AI, as collected in the AI4YOUTH initiative.

The output of the meeting will be instrumental in shaping future engagement on the topic by the Council of Europe, in particular in the research work carried in partnership with the European Commission and in the setting of its priorities between 2025 and 2030 – and CONNECT is glad to have offered its contribution.