Deadline: October 17, 2025
Applications for the Gen(Z)AI Program 2025 for Youth in Canada are now open. 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, they remain largely absent from decision making about this technology. As the Canadian federal government ramps up its AI strategy, Gen(Z)AI believes 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, Gen(Z)AI will 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.
Benefits
- 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.
Eligibility
- All Canadian youth between the ages of 17 and 23 are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must currently live in Canada.
- They strongly encourage applications from Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and newcomer youth, as well as youth from rural and remote communities.
Application
- If you are selected to participate, you are required to:
- Attend a 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
For more information, visit Gen(Z)AI Program.
