We are asking young people in Tower Hamlets aged 12-16 to join our unique programme for a 10 weeks SAIF AI Challenge to form a team and develop their own AI product to help solve a social, health or educational problem, supported by the best tech mentors to help devise a solution using AI design and machine learning techniques. In the SAIF Project Team members will learn through amazing workshops in Product Design, AI, Machine Learning, Entrepreneurship) and visits from and/or trips to UK tech giants in the City of London! There will be an Awards evening at the end of the project. We will work in partnership with Tower Hamlets schools, University Design and Computer Science Departments, education experts and community groups throughout the borough, so they can support our AI Challenges and each of our cohort of SAIF members. Our first AI pilot programme for young people will run from Brady Arts Centre Hanbury Street, from early/mid-September for up to 25 young people from the area.

What we'll deliver:

• Young people create new solutions to social problems through AI
• Young people develop new creative skills in AI and machine learning
• A diverse group of young people receive personal guidance from mentors from Leading Tech Design Companies,

Why it's a great idea:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is changing our world, and we are getting used to AI and Augmented Realities in our lives and computer games – but not enough young people – especially girls and people from our diverse communities are developing skills to shape this new world. There’s a problem if future technology is being shaped by a small section of society with a singular worldview. If AI systems only reflect white, male programmers, will these AI systems actually be useful for our diverse world? We need Tower Hamlets to lead the skills challenge in AI.

Steps to get it done:

• Develop an AI Challenge Curriculum
• Promote and recruit 25 young people from BangalTown Tower Hamlets
• Collaborate with a minimum of three local Schools
• Collaborate with a minimum of two London universities
• Partner with Udichi Shilpi Goshti for safeguarding and educational administration
• Promote the AI Challenge Programme in Tower Hamlets from August 2019
• Recruit a minimum of 25 young people (12-15 years age) by September 2019
• Deliver a pilot AI guided learning programme for young people from September 2019
• Promote and deliver an AI Challenge Awards Evening in Tower Hamlets in December 2019

This pilot project can be expanded and grow throughout the borough. We also intend to offer adult learning courses so that Tower Hamlets can lead the way in developing opportunities for learning AI and machine learning skills to access new job opportunities and create new jobs and increase entrepreneurship in the borough.