The Sage FutureMakers AI Workshop is making its global debut and Banneker High School students are among the first to take advantage of it. The training is designed to help the next generation address the future skills gap and develop ethical and responsible AI technology that solves a societal problem in their community.
As part of the program, Banneker High School students were tasked with addressing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainability Goals. Problems addressed included algorithmic solutions to support gender equality, an AI app that addresses food insecurity and climate change impact modeling to show the impact of climate change in a user’s local area.
“I can’t over-state the value of what students achieve through FutureMakers,” said Dr. Valencia Bradshaw, Banneker High School STEM Program Director. “In a short timeframe, young people who have never even coded are guided into developing an AI product that solves a problem they see in the world.”
“They learn that it is crucial for people from diverse backgrounds to contribute to the development of AI,” she continued. “They come to understand that the AI jobs of the future will require skills they already have – such as creativity, empathy and the ability to tell a story. What this ultimately does is empower our students to understand that they can play an important role in the future of this exciting sector.”
Sage is a market leader in business management solutions. Sage Foundation has partnered with 3DE, a nonprofit created by Junior Achievement, to implement Sage FutureMakers in the metro area.
“As a technology company, innovation is at the core of what we do, and we see the power and future potential of AI firsthand in our industry,” said Ron McMurtrie, CMO, Sage. “We want to empower the next generation to use their skills and creativity to think about a career in technology, and ultimately solve the world’s problems with the AI they learn to create.”
In 2018, Sage Foundation piloted the FutureMakers curriculum, working with 150 young people, ages 13 to 17, in the U.K. and Ireland. The ultimate goal of the program is to work with governments to insert the workshops into the standard school curriculum.