Skills-based social network Goodwall has joined forces with big tech firms Microsoft and HP to launch the NextGen AI Alliance, an innovative global partnership designed to equip young people with the skills to harness the opportunities AI creates.

Timed ahead of key global milestones such as the UN General Assembly and International Youth Day, the NextGen AI Alliance aims to make complex digital skills, including AI, more accessible, engaging and applicable to local market contexts.

AI is reshaping industries at a rapid pace, yet millions of young people remain excluded from the opportunities it creates. The programme is designed to change that by simplifying advanced technologies, connecting them to real-world applications, and ensuring that digital and AI learning is relevant and attainable for young people everywhere.

“This programme is about equipping young people with the foundational AI skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. By meeting youth where they are, we’re making AI more accessible, empowering them to shape their futures, and preparing them for the intelligence age,” Goodwall cofounder and CEO Taha Bawa said on June 19.

Through collaboration with private- and public-sector partners, the initiative will seek to equip youth with generative AI fluency and digital skills for the future of work. It will also deliver gamified, localised learning experiences tailored to specific regions, starting with Africa, Brazil and a pilot programme in India.

The initiative will also expand its impact through financial support, programme growth and deeper learning opportunities.

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 60% of people under the age of 25.

Simultaneously, digital inequality persists. According to the World Bank in 2022, fewer than 30% of youth in sub-Saharan Africa have access to digital learning resources. By 2030, more than 230-million jobs across the continent will require digital skills. Despite this, only 2% of youth currently have access to foundational skills in AI, coding, or emerging technologies.

The NextGen AI Alliance aims to help reverse these trends by delivering mobile-first, gamified learning experiences that are localised and accessible, even in low-bandwidth environments. Content will be delivered through the Goodwall platform, designed to be practical, culturally relevant and easy to use.

“Generative AI is reshaping the world of work, and young people need to be part of it. Through our AI Skills Initiative and the NextGen AI Alliance, we’re opening doors to careers and possibilities that might have otherwise felt out of reach.

“Microsoft is . . . equipping youth with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven economy by partnering with nonprofits, schools, and community organisations to deliver AI training around the world,” Microsoft Skills for Social Impact GM Naria Santa Lucia said.

HP, a key partner in the alliance, emphasised the importance of preparing youth for the future of work through digital fluency and applied learning.

“AI has the power to change the world but that requires young people globally to have the opportunity to understand and apply it. By equipping disconnected youth with the right skills needed for the future of work we’re unlocking new pathways to innovation, economic inclusion, and long-term impact,” HP global head of social impact and HP Foundation executive director Michele Malejki said.

The NextGen AI Alliance envisions a world where young people, regardless of geography, are equipped with the knowledge, tools and confidence to harness the power of AI and digital skills to shape their futures.

“We need this AI moment to be open and welcoming to all. That means engaging youth through meaningful learning journeys that build confidence, curiosity, and a sense of purpose,” Bawa said.