Making AI accessible to all: our collaboration with Teens in AI

The demand for AI talent has surged by 450% in the last five years, and 65% of future generations will work in jobs that don’t yet exist. AI is transforming industries, economies and daily life at an unprecedented pace. By 2030, AI is projected to add $15.7 trillion to the global economy, and the European Union plans to invest €20 billion per year in AI initiatives. Yet, despite this rapid growth, a critical challenge remains: the AI skills gap. A Red Hat EMEA survey showed that AI is a key driver of cloud investments for IT managers, yet AI is the #1 skills gap for respondents.

At Red Hat, we believe collaboration is key to closing this gap. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Teens in AI, a global initiative empowering young people aged 12-18 to explore AI through hackathons, mentorship and real-world problem-solving. Together, we’re helping shape the next generation of AI leaders, equipping them with open source tools, AI principles and the confidence to innovate.

Red Hat’s commitment in action

Since announcing our collaboration in January 2025, Red Hatters and Red Hat partners across EMEA have actively engaged to support their mission. We've hosted inspirational talks and educational workshops featuring industry leaders Sylvia Lohr, Partner Go-to-Market Lead, Data & AI, and Patricia Mestre, EMEA Partner Go-to-Market Lead, Data & AI, both from Microsoft, discussing education and equality in AI. 

“Collaboration across organisations, countries and skill levels is key to closing the AI skills gap. By embracing teamwork and continuous learning, we can drive innovation together.” Sylvia Lohr, Partner Go-to-Market Lead, Data & AI, Microsoft

Our work with Teens in AI isn’t just about teaching skills; it’s about building an accessible, open future for AI.: Our own AI platform architect, Cansu Kavılı Örnek, led a hands-on lab session on open source AI, demystifying concepts and demonstrating how to build simple AI agents. The enthusiasm and engagement from the teens were palpable, underscoring the need for these educational opportunities.

Open source collaboration lowers barriers to AI innovation

The Teens in AI Global Hackathon Finals on 24 April showcased exactly why the next generation of technologists fills us with hope. Opened by Samantha Niblett, Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire, the event brought together 200+ attendees, teens, mentors and industry leaders to witness five extraordinary teams pitch AI solutions tackling pressing global challenges.

I am so proud and grateful to have joined as a judge along with Sage’s Gustavo Zeidan, Citi’s Saba Rubaei, and AI ethicist Tabitha Goldstaub. 

I was blown away by the creativity, technical skill and empathy behind each project. These teens aren’t just learning how to work with AI, they’re already leading with it. Special congrats are in order for the winning teams, with each one addressing critical social issues: 

• #1 - Menova, Pakistan: Menova is an AI-powered mobile app designed to provide personalised, culturally sensitive menopause support. It features symptom tracking, an AI chatbot, an educational library, and a community forum, ensuring that no woman has to navigate menopause alone.
• #2 - Vuka Learn, South Africa: A hybrid learning platform accessible both online and offline via an affordable tablet. It offers diverse content tailored to different learning styles and features a chatbot for mental health support.
• #3 - HandEcho, Tunisia: Gloves to assist individuals with speech disabilities. The gloves are designed to enable users to communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) and translate it instantly into speech.

From ideas to impact

Mahroosh from Menova, the winning hackathon team, then sat down for a conversation with Elena Sinel, Teens in AI founder, and Jen Dudeck, senior vice president and chief people officer, Red Hat. 

We are so proud that at only 17 years of age, Mahroosh and her teammate Maryam (19) are aiming to put Menova into production. “Thanks to Teens in AI, I now see AI as not just a powerful tool but as something young people like me can use to make a real difference. Teens in AI gave us the perfect launchpad for this project. We had a bootcamp with a bunch of cool topics, we learned about the basics of AI, machine learning and Python. We had mentoring sessions in which we learned how to create prototypes, how to go about making a minimal viable product.” Mahroosh Umer, co-developer of Menova, Teens in AI hackathon winner.

As part of Red Hat’s prize, winning teams will receive mentoring sessions and an opportunity to pitch their project to Red Hat leaders. 

Investing in initiatives like Teens in AI is an investment in the future

These young innovators are already putting their knowledge into action, tackling pressing social issues with creativity and technical skill, proving the immense value of such collaborative initiatives.

Red Hat is proud to champion AI, helping to nurture the next generation of technologists who can innovate transparently and collaboratively at a pace that we never before thought possible.

To every teen who participated: Your journey is just beginning. Keep experimenting, keep questioning and keep pushing boundaries. The tech world needs your creativity, your perspectives and your bold ideas. And to everyone else watching this space, get involved. Whether you’re a student, a developer, or a business leader, there’s a role for you in shaping an AI future that works for all.