Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we process information and tell stories. With deep fakes on the rise and misinformation spreading rapidly, Craig Newmark Philanthropies (CNP) and the Geena Davis Institute (GDI)—two organizations known for their commitment to diversity, equity, and fairness—recently joined forces to confront this issue. They co-hosted a virtual See Jane Salon titled “AI Awareness Increases Cyber Safety In Our Schools, Screens, and Society.”
This dynamic panel event brought together expert voices to explore how AI awareness in education and media can help inspire the next generation, address bias, and foster equitable representation. Panelists included CNP grantees:
- Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code
- Ellen Pack, President, Common Sense Media
- B Cavello, Director of Emerging Technologies, Aspen Institute
With the shared belief that media can break stereotypes and change perceptions of the real world overnight, Craig Newmark and Geena Davis emphasized the importance of showing women and young girls that AI offers new avenues for STEM education and careers. This message was delivered to an audience of content creators and media decision makers as it stressed that the inputs to AI must be diverse and it is imperative to have guardrails in place to ensure that AI becomes a force for good and not as one that continues to perpetuate negative stereotypes.
Moderated by Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO of GDI, the discussion highlighted how media and technology can become powerful tools for inclusion and opportunity—when guided by thoughtful implementation and safeguards.
How AI Shapes Education and Media
Visibility Matters in STEM Representation
Representation in media is crucial for inspiring diversity in STEM fields, particularly among young girls and underrepresented groups.
Di Nonno unveiled new research from GDI: “Portray Her 2.0: An Analysis of 15 years of Women in STEM on-Screen 2007-2022.” The report revealed that only 15% of female characters were shown working in computer science or programming—and none were portrayed in AI or cybersecurity roles.
Tarika Barrett emphasized, “At Girls Who Code, we want young women and nonbinary students to see themselves as the architects of our tech future. We’re demystifying AI and helping students feel empowered by its possibilities.”
Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
Developing media literacy is essential for students to engage with AI-related content and discern fact from fiction.
B Cavello explained: “It’s really important that people be critical consumers of the stories that we hear about these tools. So one of the things that we do at Aspen Digital is build a foundational baseline of understanding about AI. We’ve created AI primers—AI 101 and Intro to Generative AI—initially for journalists, but they’re now used widely by educators and policymakers.”
Ellen Pack added, “We’re out there trying to make sure students are thinking critically and responsibly about what is happening. “If you can see it, you should be able to think critically about it.”
Empowering Students through Education
Educational initiatives and tools play a pivotal role in equipping youth with the knowledge and skills to thrive in an AI-driven world. Here are some examples:
- Girls Who Code launched GirlJams.ai, where girls create music while learning the basics of AI. This allows to learn the basics of AI by writing and creating art for and basically producing their own hit single.
- Common Sense Media “rates, educates and advocates.” We look at these (AI) tools critically and objectively and say this is what they do. That’s the rate piece.” Our educate piece is AI literacy lessons.
- Everybody’s old enough to talk about AI but the way we talk about it changes. Having awareness of what data is (and how you might be generating it), fuels your understanding and curiosity about AI. That’s a conversation that can start at a really early age. One example of young people leading a conversation on these topics is The Aspen Institute’s Next Gen Tech Fellows where youth leaders conducting important AI research.
Real-World Impact: Youth Innovation and Public Tools
AI awareness in education and media is already sparking real-world impact:
Tarika Barrett: I want to mention one student, Rachel Sun. After her grandmother was put on dialysis, this high school junior wanted to help people with kidney disease. Rachel taught herself to code and created an app that uses AI to detect anemia in a user’s body. When our girls and nonbinary students see this, they can think outside the box when it comes to the possibilities of AI.
Ellen Pack: We set out and said, “we should rate AI.” It’s really important when you talk about impact. Everybody wants a good rating, right? Data and data privacy is an important piece as are basic safety and guardrails. Right now we say that AI models are better for creativity than for fact based exploration. A lot of the companies that we rated wanted to engage in this conversation.
B Cavello: We’re part of a community of folks working on public options for AI. I would love to see open source and public options for AI that allow educators, teachers, classrooms to experiment with, for instance, a computer vision tool in their science class to use language models within their history and social studies and English language arts classes. To try these tools and understand what they are good for and (what they’re not)!
What the Future Holds: An Inclusive AI Ecosystem
In closing, Di Nonno asked panelists to look ahead. Their visions for the next two years include:
- B Cavello: “I want to see an AI-ready America. That means investing in educators and communities with the tools, resources, and media literacy they need.”
- Tarika Barrett: “Let’s ensure marginalized students aren’t left behind. Cyber education and access to AI must be prioritized.”
- Ellen Pack: “We need clear, proactive policies that support responsible innovation and protect young users.”
Partner Organizations Driving Change
Organizations working to increase AI awareness in education and media:
Conclusion: Knowledge is Power
The powerful new technology of AI must be embraced mindfully. Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Geena Davis Institute believe that AI awareness in education and media is critical to building a more equitable, inclusive future. From coding initiatives to open-source experimentation, these organizations are ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all.
