On October 31st, 2024, UNICEF and the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative hosted an event at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, titled “Building Future Brain Capital by Enhancing Child Development in the Age of AI“.
Organizers brought together neuroscience and early childhood development experts to explore how artificial intelligence could support young children’s development while addressing the ethical and safety challenges.This initiative is part of UNICEF’s efforts to forge partnerships to help make informed decisions regarding AI to promote optimal child development outcomes.
Brain Capital Alliance Executive Director, Harris Eyre, was invited to attend and contribute. Eyre is an advisor to the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association and Lead and Harry Z. Yan and Weiman Gao Senior Fellow for Neuro-Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
The convening highlighted AI’s opportunities and risks in promoting child development in the early years and its potential to enhance various aspects of ECD programming, including early learning, parenting support, and inclusion for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Experts also pointed to key issues concerning bias, privacy, and equity. Cross-disciplinary collaboration and AI technology regulation were some of the themes raised to ensure that AI truly serves the best interests of young children and caregivers across diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
The session concluded with a commitment to developing a white paper and roadmap for further action. These tools will guide future research and policy advocacy on AI in ECD, demonstrating the concrete steps towards ensuring a brighter future for all, especially young children.
On November 1st, the Wharton Neuroscience Summit was completed on the topic, “The Adaptive Brain: Strategic Resilience for Business Leaders”. Eyre moderated the panel, “Lifelong Learning as a Source of Resilience”, which included the following experts:Yael Niv, PhD, Professor Psychology and Neuroscience, Princeton University; Vaneesha Dutra, Associate Professor of Finance, Howard University; William Perthes, Bernard C. Watson Director of Adult Education, The Barnes Foundation.
