Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept – it’s a present reality. From chatbots to content creation tools, businesses are rapidly adopting AI to streamline operations, personalise services, and cut costs. But with innovation comes responsibility. And, as recent headlines show, even the most successful brands can get AI policy wrong.
When AI Goes Rogue: The Duolingo Case
Language learning app Duolingo recently made waves for the wrong reasons. After stating they would “stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle,” the company faced intense backlash. Users criticised a drop in quality, employees raised concerns about job displacement, and the brand even temporarily wiped its TikTok and Instagram posts. In response, the CEO released a follow-up statement clarifying what “AI first” really means for Duolingo’s future. AI may have promised efficiency but in this case, it came at the cost of trust and user experience.
It’s a cautionary tale for any business exploring AI.
The takeaway? Embracing AI is not the problem – it’s how you implement it that matters. Businesses need clear, values-led AI policies that centre people, not just technology. And there’s one group perfectly placed to help with that: the generations growing up alongside AI – Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Why Gen Z and Alpha Are Crucial to AI Policy
These digital natives aren’t just users of AI – they live with it daily. Whether it’s using ChatGPT to help with homework or navigating social media algorithms, Gen Z and Alpha have a unique understanding of the possibilities and pitfalls of emerging tech.
They also care deeply about ethics, inclusion, and transparency. For a generation that values human connection, purpose and accountability, AI can’t be a faceless black box. It must be developed and implemented with empathy and foresight.
If businesses want to shape AI policies that work – for their customers, employees, and society at large – they must co-create with the people who will live with the consequences.
So, How Do You Do That?
At Participation People, we help organisations shape and shift policies, with the future generations, through meaningful, impactful youth engagement.
Here’s how we can support your AI journey:
Youth Hackathons – A full-day interactive workshop where young people team up with your senior leaders to problem-solve real challenges – such as creating an ethical, future-proof AI policy. It’s innovation with inclusion baked in.
Consultancy with Young Consultants – Spend time with our trained young experts who bring fresh, future-facing perspectives to your boardroom. Whether it’s refining AI strategy, communications, or ethics, they’ll help keep your plans grounded, relevant, and human.
Youth Market Research & Focus Groups – Need data to drive decisions? We run youth-led research and focus groups to gather insights, opinions, and lived experiences – all to help you understand how AI is really landing with the next generation.
Future-Proofing Your AI Policy Starts Here
AI isn’t going away but how you use it will determine whether it drives connection or disconnection, trust or scepticism, growth or backlash.
To get it right, you need more than just developers. You need dialogue. Co-creation. And a genuine commitment to understanding the people behind the data.
Ready to create AI strategies that work for the future?
Get in touch to co-design your next move with young people at the heart.
[email protected]
www.participationpeople.com
03333 556 438
