NoSo AI Program
We’re excited to engage in more deep work around AI harms. We piloted an AI detox challenge last November, and now are launching a larger AI portfolio in March 2026, led by Mariel Emanuel, our Head of Responsible AI and Wellbeing Strategy at NoSo
Our work will hone in on three main programs:
Discern: Our NoSo Peer Facilitators will deliver interactive presentations in youth groups and schools, focusing on personal, community, and societal level AI impacts. Participants engage in investigative brainstorms to (1) ideate self-led action plans and red-line boundaries with generative AI; & (2) design solutions for a better future for their community, and the world. We believe that education sticks best when it's personal, reflective, and activity-based.
Empower: Select, passionate students will have the agency to envision, and the support to launch, projects/initiatives addressing local and/or societal-level AI impacts. Examples include sample legislative policies, AI company safety guidelines, community building support, or established norms for schools to prevent cheating
Forge: Collective findings from brainstorms and select initiatives will be shared with advocacy groups, families, schools and AI companies in our biannual ‘Youth: seat at the table’ report, a youth collective-opinion report designed to forge healthier AI futures and position youth voices as central to the fight for safer, ethical AI systems. A NoSo-trained youth representative will use the report as an advocacy tool
Schools interested in piloting with us should fill out our form below
In Partnership with McGill University’s Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy and Mila Quebec AI Institute, we have been hosting pilots of our AI workshops and research focus groups at Gen(Z)AI to inform our programming. Stay tuned for our first research report launching in March 2026.
View our media coverage on AI and youth
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If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.
Preliminary Focus Group Findings
NoSo has been hosting focus groups with young people aged 18-25 to understand the nuances of their lived experience with AI in Canada and the US.
Participants are asked simple, broad questions aimed to be non-leading, intended to uncover their current knowledge level, opinions, and experiences with AI. We heard the good, bad, and ugly.
We are excited to share our newest comprehensive report from over 7 youth feedback sessions launching in partnership with MTD in March 2026.
