Building a Youth Hub for Responsible AI in the Heart of International Geneva

Geneva is home to the United Nations, the ITU, CERN, and over forty international organizations shaping the world’s future. It is also a city where young people – students, researchers, advocates – are increasingly asking a simple but urgent question: who gets to shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI)? One year ago, a small team decided to do something about it. The Geneva Hub was born.

The Geneva Hub is part of the global Young AI Leaders (YAIL) programme run under AI for Good, the ITU’s flagship AI platform. Launched 12 months ago, our Geneva Hub has grown into a team of almost 20 members, bringing together students, professionals, and civic actors from diverse backgrounds with one shared goal: making AI work for people and the planet.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland – a city at the crossroads of diplomacy, technology, and international cooperation – our hub is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between global AI policy conversations and grassroots action.

Why This Matters

AI is reshaping education, work, governance, and daily life – often faster than institutions can respond. Yet young people, who will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions, are rarely at the table. We are working to change that.

We believe that meaningful AI governance requires diverse, informed, and empowered youth voices. From the universities of Geneva to the multilateral institutions of “Genève internationale”, our hub builds the connections, competencies, and projects that turn young people from passive observers into active contributors.

Key Achievements in Our First Year

• Mapped 49 AI-focused organisations in Geneva, creating a foundation for future partnerships.

• Launched an AI education programme in both English and French, providing material to universities, vocational centres, and popular education institutes.

• Became formally recognised by the University of Geneva and joined its AI resources ecosystem.

• Featured in the University of Geneva’s official newspaper, raising the profile of YAIL in the academic community.

• Held roundtables and workshop sessions with key players of the ecosystem, topics ranging from peacebuilding to sustainability and education.

What We Do: Projects at a Glance

Our work spans three interconnected areas: education, research, and policy.

Education & Training

We are developing a modular AI training curriculum covering both technical skills and ethical dimensions, in partnership with universities and vocational institutions. We are also working with the Paris Hub on a Francophone MOOC to bring accessible, French-language AI education to teenagers and young adults – a community currently underserved by existing resources.

Research & Mapping

We are conducting cross-hub research to understand how the general public – not just technical experts – perceives and interacts with AI, across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

Community & Policy

From hosting public workshops on democratic digital infrastructure, to co-organising the Sustainable AI Community launch, to collaborating on the Youth AI Governance Forum – we are building a community of practice that puts youth voices into real policy conversations.

Who We Are

Our association is led by a dedicated leadership team and meets monthly in hybrid format. We are intentionally interdisciplinary – drawing from law, computer science, international relations, social sciences, and more. While we continue to work on greater gender diversity, our shared commitment to responsible and inclusive AI keeps us aligned.

We are proud to collaborate with partners including the University of Geneva, Geneva Macro Labs, ge-ni (Canton de Genève), the Zurich and Paris Hubs, the International Peace Youth Group, the Swiss Youth IGF, Women in AI, AI Tinkerers, and several other actors across the “Genève internationale” and AI spaces.

Get Involved

This is just the beginning. We are actively looking for collaborators, partners, and new members who share our belief that AI’s future should be shaped by many voices.

Reach us at: genevahub.youngaileaders@etik.com

Website: youngaileaders.ch