‘I love you’, said the robot to the young person.
We can’t escape the rise of AI, but in this fast-paced world of chat and empathy bots, it’s hard to know how to keep up, and most importantly keep the young people we work with safe. In this masterclass we will be exploring the issues that affect young people when it comes to AI, how it is affecting the youth culture of today, and how we can us AI in a safe, and creative way with young people.
In this Cultural Sector Masterclass session, you will hear from:
- Nicki Watts – theatre practitioner and founder of AI Youth, who deliver training on generative AI to youth workers and educators, as well as working directly and creatively with young people, to garner understanding and safety when it comes to exploring AI.
- Nicola Fox-Hamilton – a Cyberpsychologist and lecturer in applied and cyber psychology, focusing on communication through technology, specifically online-dating. Nicola also hosts a podcast, Inbits, with her colleague, which deconstructs our digital lives.
- Tania Duarte – founder of We and AI, a charitable organisation that works to empower people to think critically about AI. Their ‘Deepfakes and Synthetic Media Workshops’ works specifically with 14-19 year olds, and are ‘are designed to support informed, safe, and ethical interactions with AI-generated media.’
The 2025-2026 Masterclass series will be hosted by Clare Murphy. Clare is a storyteller, speaker and consultant who brings the ancient art of story firmly into the contemporary world where it belongs.
During the masterclass we will be asking:
- How is AI affecting the young people we work with?
- What can we do to ensure their, and our own, safety when it comes to AI?
- How we can we develop open dialogue between us and the young people we work with when it comes to AI?
- How can we better understand the complexities, challenges and opportunities of AI in our creative programmes with Children and young people?
This free CPD is a part of A New Direction's Cultural Sector Masterclass series for creative learning professionals to reflect upon and strengthen your practice. This session is only available online and won't be recorded.
Find out more: www.anewdirection.org.uk/training-cpd/cultural-sector-masterclasses
