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Youth belong in the AI conversation
As a high school student in Danville, I spend my days in classrooms, on platforms, and in digital spaces increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. My generation is not preparing for an AI-driven future, we are already living in it.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at UNESCO in Paris on a panel about AI and the rights of children. I shared a simple message: AI has the power to expand access to education and unlock creativity, but it also raises new questions about how young people grow, learn, and connect.
The decisions being made today about these systems will shape not just technology, but the future of childhood itself.
Too often, young people are studied, categorized, and influenced by technology without being included in the conversations that define it. We are treated as future stakeholders, when in reality we are already its most active users. That’s why I continue this work locally and beyond.
On April 11, I will be speaking in San Francisco as part of the global Night of Ideas event, discussing ethical AI and the role young people must play in shaping it. If AI is going to define our generation, then our generation should have a voice in how it’s built, especially when we live so close to the Valley designing the future.
– Nikhil Gujral, Monte Vista High student and youth advocate for ethical AI
Boycott conference
Please boycott the California Trails and Greenways Conference that is being held at the San Ramon Marriott hotel April 14-17. It is run by mountain bikers and excludes anyone who opposes trail-building or mountain biking – the major forces destroying wildlife habitat in our parks!
– Mike Vandeman, Ph.D.
Strengthen the future health care workforce
Addressing health care workforce shortages starts with early exposure and clear pathways into the field.
Recently, more than 60 East Bay high school students from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District gathered at the Cal State East Bay Concord Center for the Academic Advantage event, part of an annual initiative I’ve hosted. The program was designed to connect students directly with practicing clinicians and provide insight into careers in medicine, dentistry and allied health.
Through small-group discussions and one-on-one conversations, students asked questions, heard firsthand career journeys, and gained a better understanding of what working in healthcare looks like day-to-day. One student shared that the experience strengthened her interest in pursuing a career in medicine, while others noted how eye-opening it was to learn about the many paths within healthcare.
Following the event, two local students were awarded scholarships, and another was selected for a job-shadowing opportunity, with additional shadowing experiences offered by participating clinicians.
Academic Advantage continues to focus on early exposure, mentorship and community engagement to help strengthen the future health care workforce in the East Bay.
– Dr. Brad Williams, oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Pleasanton council shows early support for annexation, downtown plan, other priority projectsMarch 25, 2026 2:36 pm
Nighttime lane closures on I-580 near Pleasanton, I-680 through San Ramon ValleyMarch 25, 2026 2:05 pm
Youth involvement in AI research is not just beneficial—it’s essential. As artificial intelligence becomes woven into every part of society, the next generation deserves a seat at the table where its future is shaped. Teenagers, in particular, bring a rare combination of curiosity, creativity, and fearlessness that can push the boundaries of what AI can do. But technical skill alone isn’t enough. To guide AI toward outcomes that benefit humanity, young people must begin with a strong grounding in ethics.
Introducing teens to AI ethics early helps them understand not only how these systems work, but how they should work. It encourages them to question bias, fairness, transparency, and accountability—issues that will define the next era of technology. When youth learn to pair innovation with responsibility, they become capable of building tools that reflect society’s highest values rather than its flaws.
Empowering teenagers to participate in AI research creates a generation of informed creators instead of passive consumers. It ensures that the people who will live longest with the consequences of AI have a voice in its direction. Involving youth today is an investment in a more thoughtful, equitable, and human-centered technological future.