We asked 330,000 young people about the future of AI. This is what they said.

In the lead-up to the release of our landmark report, Time to Act: Preparing Youth for Work in an AI-Powered World, we asked ourselves: what do young people really think about artificial intelligence?

To answer, we turned to UNICEF’s U-Report platform, where more than 330,000 youth from 14 to 35 years old, from 181 countries shared their thoughts on AI’s impact, their preparedness for this rapidly evolving future, and the skills they believe will define the workforce of tomorrow.

Their voices not only informed our report but also called for the urgency of addressing the challenges and opportunities that AI presents. In this blog, we unpack the responses to this poll, structured around the four calls to action that emerged from the report.

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Shared Hope for Equality

The responses reveal a stark digital divide that continues to shape young people’s familiarity with AI. While nearly 60% of respondents reported at least some understanding of AI, a worrying 40% admitted they were completely unfamiliar with the technology. Regional differences paint an even sharper picture with those from West and Central Africa showing the greatest gaps.

The responses also revealed a significant gender disparity in AI confidence and familiarity. While 52% of male respondents expressed confidence in working with AI, only 42% of female respondents felt the same. This gap reflects broader gendered digital inequalities, where women and girls face systemic barriers to accessing and utilizing digital technologies. The gender digital divide is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where only 51% of women have internet access compared to 59% of men. These disparities translate into a gendered AI divide, with males accounting for approximately 78% of AI professionals globally. Beyond access, social norms and structural barriers often limit adolescent girls’ exposure to AI, further widening this divide. Addressing these barriers is critical to ensuring equitable participation in the evolving digital economy.

As one 13-year-old U-Reporter from Singapore eloquently stated, “I hope that everyone in the world, regardless of age, gender, nationality, and religion, can have easy access to affordable data and devices. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits of the rapidly changing technology around us.” Her words capture the essence of what is at stake—a world where no one is left behind in an AI-driven future. 

Building a Foundation for AI Skills

For many of the young participants, the lack of foundational knowledge in AI skills, such as prompt engineering, AI for productivity, AI for content creation or using AI responsibly, is a pressing concern. Only 15% of respondents described themselves as “very familiar” with AI, with many remarking  the importance of AI training as a cornerstone for preparing for the future. Across regions, this sentiment remained consistent, with nearly 40% identifying AI training as the most critical need for navigating tomorrow’s workforce. The appetite for AI training was diverse across country contexts, with young participants from Low/Middle Income Countries demonstrating a strong preference for AI training, compared to their peers from High Income Countries who placed a higher premium on developing skills that AI cannot do.

However not just any training content will do, since employer-valued skills and certifications that could open doors to meaningful opportunities come at a close second for our youth with 34% for males and 31% for females. A 20 year old woman from Zambia shared her optimism: “As a youth, I believe and know that a future with AI can make a difference and help us improve our thinking capacity as well as resolve situations which a normal human being can’t accomplish.”

Scaling AI Skilling Programmes for All

While half of the respondents expressed confidence in their preparedness for AI-driven jobs, a considerable number shared they lack the skills or understanding to do so. The responses highlighted not only the need for training but also the urgency of scaling these efforts to ensure every young person, regardless of background, has access to opportunities.

In their feedback, youth repeatedly stressed the need to address disparities in skills development. One 18-year-old from Botswana had a call to our world leaders: “In light of the development of AI, I urge every leader to analyze work environments and sectors and find ways of equipping those whose jobs are likely to be lost to AI with other skills that can offer them employment.”

Honoring the Value of Human Skills

One of the most powerful themes that emerged from the poll was the importance of human skills in an AI-powered world. A majority of respondents—59%—believed that as AI advances, human skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and empathy will become even more essential. Yet, this belief was not shared equally across all groups. Female respondents from certain regions, such as Eastern Europe and Central Asia, expressed greater uncertainty about the role of human skills.

As a 15-year-old from Egypt aptly put it, “AI should enhance, not replace, human efforts. Make sure it doesn’t affect people’s ability to do things by themselves and that no one is reliant on AI when it comes to important things.” Similarly, a 19-year-old from Morocco emphasized the importance of “developing skills that AI cannot replicate.”

These reflections leave us with the optimistic approach that, while AI will certainly transform industries, the core of progress will always rest in uniquely human abilities.

A Call to Action

330,000 young people from 181 countries have spoken: the future of work in an AI-driven world depends on bridging the digital divide, creating accessible skilling programmes, scaling opportunities, and investing in human potential. 

Young people everywhere see AI reshaping the workforce and want training that prepares them for real jobs, not outdated skills. They recognize AI’s potential to drive innovation, but also fear it could deepen inequality.

For young people in low- and middle-income countries, the digital divide is the biggest barrier. Many lack reliable internet, access to AI tools, and educational programmes that teach AI skills. They need urgent investment in infrastructure, local-language AI content, and inclusive skilling programmes to ensure AI works for them, not against them.

The ball is now on our court, governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, civil society, and young people themselves, and the question is not whether we will act, but how boldly we can rise to the challenge and respond to our youth. 

We must scale AI skilling programmes so every young person can access free, job-relevant AI education.

We must integrate AI skills into learning and workplace training, ensuring youth are prepared for an AI-powered job market.

We must develop ethical, inclusive AI systems that reflect the voices of young people, not just those who control the technology.

Together, we can ensure that young people worldwide are equipped not just to survive, but to thrive, in the age of AI.

The time to act is now.

You can learn more about U-Report, UNICEF’s digital community for young people, by young people here www.voicesofyouth.org