Protecting Children in the Age of AI: Youth Manifesto Launch, Under the Label of France’s G7 Presidency

Paris, June 12, 2026 - With nearly two in three young Europeans already using generative AI, France is making the protection of minors in the digital age a priority of its G7 Presidency. On June 15, the Paris Peace Forum takes a concrete step forward: the launch - through its international coalition ‘iRAISE’ - of a manifesto developed by 95 young people from around the world and the publication of a landmark scientific study to inform G7 decision-makers.

Held under the label of France’s G7 Presidency, the Paris Peace Forum, everyone.AI and the Human Technology Foundation are organizing an event on Monday, June 15 at the Boston Consulting Group’s offices in Paris, entitled “G7, AI and Children: Building Beneficial GenAI for Children”. This event falls within the framework of the G7’s priorities regarding the governance of artificial intelligence and the protection of children in the digital age.

On this occasion, Anne Le Hénanff, French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, and Sarah El Haïry, French High Commissioner for Children, will deliver the opening and closing addresses. Also in attendance will be Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer (OpenAI); Eric Salobir, priest and Chair of the Executive Committee (Human Technology Foundation); Josianne Galea Baron, Child Rights and Business Specialist (UNICEF); as well as representatives from companies including Apple, Google and Orange; representatives from numerous foreign countries (Italy, Germany, Norway, Luxembourg, Chile, Denmark, Canada); NGOs and students. Participants will discuss the conditions necessary to translate the latest scientific data and young people’s voices into concrete commitments and design standards for AI models.

Launch of the Youth Manifesto

The event will mark the launch of the “Youth Manifesto”, a direct expression of young people’s expectations and concerns, addressed to global decision-makers. The manifesto will take the form of a written text and a face-to-camera video, which will be shown during the event.

A scientific study contributing to the G7’s work

The morning will also provide an opportunity to present the scientific report Mapping of GenAI impacts on child development: Emerging scientific consensus on anticipated benefits and risks, led by Mathilde Cerioli, PhD in Neuroscience, and Daniel Hipp, PhD in Cognitive and Brain Science. Initiated by iRAISE — an international coalition co-led by the Paris Peace Forum and everyone.AI —, this publication constitutes a direct scientific contribution to the G7 discussions: it maps the impacts of generative AI on the cognitive, socio-emotional and relational development of children (aged 0–17), and calls on G7 countries to adopt AI policies tailored to the different stages of child development.

The report highlights the following key figures:

• One in two teenagers in the US (aged 15–17) had used a generative AI app by 2025, with significant uptake among 10–12-year-olds
• 63.8% of 16–24-year-olds in the EU had used generative AI by 2025 (Eurostat)
• 66.5% of 13–18-year-olds in the UK were using it in 2025, and among them, the proportion of weekly users rose from 31.1% to 45.6% in just one year
• Non-G7 countries (India, Brazil, Indonesia) show even higher adoption rates than those of G7 economies
• 13.1% of young Americans aged 12–21 use generative AI for mental health advice
• Nearly three in four teenagers in the US use it for advice, emotional support, or to ask sensitive questions
• 400,000 educational apps available today are primarily aimed at 6–12-year-olds
• Half of families in North America and China report that their children use learning apps several times a week

Towards the 9th edition of the Paris Peace Forum

The work carried out as part of the iRAISE coalition will feed into discussions of the next edition of the Paris Peace Forum, to be held on 10 and 11 November 2026, with numerous sessions and roundtables dedicated to AI and children.

For accreditation requests for the event or any media enquiries, please contact: media@parispeaceforum.org

About iRAISE: the International Research-driven Alliance for AI Serving Every Child (iRAISE) is an international multistakeholder coalition, launched by the Paris Peace Forum and everyone.AI, that fosters inclusive and interdisciplinary dialogue between governments, institutions, tech companies, investors, researchers, educators, and families. Through diverse perspectives (spanning human sciences, human rights, technology, and ethics), we seek to support practical, evidence-based guidelines to safeguard and promote children's cognitive and socio-emotional well-being in the age of AI. For more information, visit i-raise.org

About the Paris Peace Forum: The Forum is a platform to originate, shape & share multi-actor responses towards global peace & sustainable prosperity. By convening key decision-makers and fostering collaboration between governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society, we ensure that diplomacy is not just discussed but reinvented to meet the demands of a changing world. For more information, visit parispeaceforum.org