Gen(Z)AI is bringing 100 young Canadians (17–23) together to help shape the future of AI in Canada.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the way we work, live, think, and interact. But, while young Canadians are some of the most digitally connected people, we remain largely absent from decision making about this technology. As the Canadian federal government ramps up its AI strategy, we believe that it’s  essential to have youth voices at the forefront of this conversation – not as an afterthought, but as a guide for the future of AI in Canada.

Over the next six-months, we’ll convene 100 young Canadians across four regional forums in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Halifax to hear from you directly. You will learn from experts, deliberate with other young people, and build policy consensus that has the potential to impact Canada’s legislative and regulatory approaches to AI.

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Process.

Large-Scale Digital Engagement.

Forum Reports.

Topics.

FAQ

NoSo AI Pilot Workshops.

Final Report

When we set out to design Gen(Z)AI: Canada’s Youth Assembly on Artificial Intelligence, we were animated by an urgent conviction: that young people, among the most exposed to and affected by AI systems, should not merely be subjects of this technology, but architects of its governance. What followed – across seven months, four cities, one hundred in-person participants, and thousands of virtually engaged young Canadians – exceeded our initial ambitions.

We are confident that the recommendations drafted by Gen(Z)AI participants represent something rarely achieved in technology governance: the democratic voice of those who have the most to gain or lose, speaking clearly and in their own name.

Download the Final Report (EN)

Téléchargez le Rapport Final (FR)

Process.

4 Cities. 4 Big Topics.

  • AI & Information Integrity: January 30 - February 1

    AI is changing the way we access, process, and produce information. What can we do to ensure the words we read and the videos we view online are reliable, factual, and safe?

  • AI & Age Assurance: March 27-29

    Governments around the world are starting to ask young people to verify their age before accessing online platforms or using AI systems. How can we ensure that solutions like this protect user  privacy, digital rights, and access to information?

  • AI & Chatbots: Nov. 7-9, 2025.

    Chatbots are some of the most widely-used forms of AI. As they become increasingly embedded in our work, school, social, and personal lives, how can we ensure that we’re using them safely? 

  • AI & Data Privacy: February 20-22

    AI systems are built using large datasets, and continuously collect user data to fine-tune their outputs. What kind of data should be collected, and what should be protected?

Forum Reports.

Full Report: Toronto

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Full Report: Montreal

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Full Report: Vancouver

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Full Report: Halifax

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Large-Scale Digital Engagement.

Gen(Z)AI brings young Canadians, ages 17-23, together to deliberate on and write policy recommendations about AI and online harms. This national process also has a complementary online phase: In partnership with Make.org, thousands more young Canadians (17-23) can weigh in on the draft recommendations created by their peers.

Via an interactive sequence, available here, participants will be asked to indicate their level of agreement with the recommendations drafted by Gen(Z)AI representatives and suggest improvements: a crucial step in refining each proposal. It also provides opportunities for participants to share personal stories related to their use of AI, and to propose other AI issues they would like to see discussed and deliberated on in this process.

The survey will be populated with the results of each forum, and will be open until April 2026. The results of the survey will be discussed and brought into the deliberations of the final plenary session in Ottawa.

Canadians 17-23, take the survey here:

genzai.make.org

NoSo AI Pilot Workshops

The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy maintains a multi-year strategic partnership with NoSo Connection Collective. This partnership aims to bridge CMTD’s policy expertise with NoSo’s youth advocacy, movement building, and educational programming. In September 2025, NoSo launched its AI portfolio to better understand young people’s lived experience with AI.

As part of this portfolio, NoSo conducted four AI focus groups across the US and four AI pilot workshops across Canada—hosted at the Gen(Z)AI forums—between 2025–2026. Drawing from youth feedback about AI harms and solutions, these insights informed the first annual ‘What We Heard’ report: Forging a Better Future: What’s at Stake for Youth in the Age of AI.

‘What We Heard’ Report

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FAQ.

    • Four Gen(Z)AI Youth Forums make up one citizens’ assembly on AI. Citizens’ assemblies are well-established processes used in Canada and around the world, to help governments, academics, and civil society organizations hear regular people’s thoughts about complex policy issues. These assemblies are typically made up of several dozen randomly selected participants who represent the demographic profile of a certain region or area. Participation is voluntary.

    • Over 600 assembly processes have taken place around the world, helping to create innovative policy solutions, enable collaborative problem-solving, and build public democratic energy & engaged citizens.

    • For more information watch this video.

    • Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the way we work, live, think, and interact. And while young Canadians are some of the most digitally connected people, we remain largely absent from formal decision-making powers around these technologies and our perspectives on fairness, safety, and trust in AI remain unheard.

    • By joining Gen(Z)AI, you will get to learn about AI from some of the world’s leading AI experts, make friends, deliberate in-person and online with other young people, and propose actionable policy solutions that have the potential to impact Canadian AI legislation. Your name will be recognized in each forum’s report as well as the final cumulative report.

    • Over the last few years, the Canadian federal government has announced billions of dollars to boost Canada’s AI industry, and accelerate AI research, development, and deployment. But, while the government is betting big on boosting Canada’s AI capacity, many Canadians remain skeptical, critical, and even afraid of these rapidly evolving technologies. 

    • Young people are missing from the policy conversation about how we want AI to impact our social, work, and social life. Gen(Z)AI fills that gap by bringing you directly into the policymaking process for AI so that you can have your voice heard!

    • All Canadian youth between the ages of 17 and 23 are eligible to apply. Applicants must currently live in Canada.

    • If you are selected to participate, you are required to:

      • Attend our 2-hour virtual orientation for all participants 

      • Attend one 3-day forum, in person in either Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or Halifax

      • Virtually join the first and last days of the remaining three forums

      • Attend, either virtually or in-person, a final plenary session in Ottawa, Ontario, to present the findings of Gen(Z)AI to policymakers, politicians, and public servants 

    • Each regional session follows a 3 day structure:

      • Day 1 (fully virtual) brings all 100 participants together for a 4-hour expert online learning session. 

      • Day 2 convenes 25 regional representatives (in person) for a full day of deliberative dialogue. Participants not attending in-person get this day off. 

      • Day 3 (hybrid) brings together the 25 regional representatives in person and the 75 other representatives virtually 

    • This is a volunteer position. However, the 25 participants at each regional forum will be provided food (breakfast and lunch) and merch, and travel stipends are available for participants who require transportation to and from the regional sessions. Your name will also be listed in all the regional reports and the final report, which will have national public resonance and reach.

    • Applications will be open from October 1-17, 2025, and will be promoted nationally via social media, high schools, universities, and youth-serving organizations. Participants will then be chosen through a lottery system that accounts for diversity and inclusion.

    • We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and newcomer youth, as well as youth from rural and remote communities.

    • The selected participant pool will reflect the demographic makeup of Canada, accounting for the narrower age range of 17-23. 

    • Yes, youth who are selected to participate will be expected to attend all 4 forums as well as the final plenary session.

    • Each participant will receive a certificate recognizing their impact in this deliberative process. 

    • Yes, you can still participate! We have a limited number of travel stipends available for people who live outside the regional sessions, and are willing to travel to attend. 

    • Absolutely. This is a movement for youth, by youth: We want to hear your voices and your experiences – that’s what makes you an expert in these topics. Every regional session will also include an intensive learning session at the beginning where world-leading experts will set the foundation for the discussions you’ll have over the next two days. You will leave Gen(Z)AI with a strong understanding of some of today’s most important policy issues – from AI ethics, to data privacy, to disinformation. 

  • Yes, each regional session will have bilingual options. We will use a translation service to provide live-interpretation during the in-person sessions.