AI Is Already Shaping Childhood. Who Is Shaping AI? Balancing Innovation, Evidence, and Safety in Youth Mental Health

A conversation on how governments and societies can prepare young people for the psychological, social, and civic challenges of an AI-driven world. As AI increasingly shapes education, relationships, and decision-making, youth are experiencing its impacts earlier and more intensely than any generation before. This session explores the role of public leadership in anticipating harm before it becomes systemic—establishing guardrails, fostering digital resilience, and ensuring that innovation advances hand-in-hand with youth mental health and wellbeing.