Hope for Responsible Technology

Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund

Young Leaders on their Hopes for Responsible Technology

Something is shifting in the responsible tech movement. After years of awareness campaigns, reports, and convenings, the people closest to the work are sending a clear message: it’s time to stop diagnosing the problem and start building solutions together.

The young leaders and grantees in the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) network aren’t waiting for permission to name what’s at stake. They see the connective tissue between issues that are too often siloed.

Nick Okafortrubel&co

"AI, global human rights, surveillance, environmentalism, authoritarianism. These aren't separate conversations. There's a clear throughline that often gets hidden — something people in power may not want us to see."

That throughline runs through communities long before it reaches policy chambers or tech company boardrooms. And yet the people most impacted by the harms of technology remain the least resourced and listened to.

Tazin KhanCyber Collective

"I hope we stop treating community knowledge as a data source and start treating it as infrastructure. The people most harmed by technology have always been the most sophisticated analysts of it — they just haven't been resourced or credited as such."

This is more than a semantic distinction. It’s a demand for a fundamental reorientation of who gets to shape the digital future. Young people are clear that they must be at the center of that work. They should be subjects of research but architects of what comes next.

Zamaan QureshiDesign It For Us

"It is critical for young people to be the ones who shape the digital future we want to see — one that puts privacy and safety-by-design first and that centers the lived experiences of young people."

That future requires confronting hard truths about which tech solutions have been prioritized and which have not. Bans and awareness campaigns, while necessary, are not sufficient. The field has matured. The funding and the work need to catch up.

Larissa May#Halfthestory

"Bans are a starting line — they're necessary and important, but not enough. In 2026, I hope to see multi-stakeholder buy-in and execution at scale."

Beneath every policy debate is a human dimension that can’t be reduced to data points or legislative language. From children navigating AI companions and mental health risk online, to young workers facing AI-driven job displacement, to communities whose health information is suppressed by biased digital systems, the harms are real and compounding.

Ema SolFuture Incubator

"Responsible technology goes beyond innovation and tech-for-good. I hope this movement prioritize the humanity behind it. Safeguarding not only the well-being of systems and infrastructures but also the communities and leaders who further its mission."

What unites these voices is an urgency tempered by belief. Young leaders believe that coalitions can be stronger, that shared wins across organizations can define a movement, and that communities facing the greatest barriers are also generating the greatest creativity and resolve.

Mashiko LortkipanidzeAI Consensus

"I hope to see the responsible tech movement invest more in data privacy and AI literacy, building young people's capacity to become active participants. Our power is in our numbers. Shared wins across organizations are what will define this movement."

In 2026, the question isn’t whether young people have the vision. They do. The question is whether the rest of the field — funders, policymakers, platforms, and partners — will finally match their moment.

Neha ShuklaInnovation for Everyone

"This year, I hope to see progress on guardrails for children's online safety, especially with AI companions and critical mental health risk, shaped by the lived experience of young people navigating this world firsthand."

About the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund

The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) is a first-of-its-kind philanthropic initiative that supports youth- and intergenerationally led organizations in collectively defining what responsible technology looks like for their communities. By reimagining power structures in philanthropy — inviting young people to move from recipients to decision-makers — the Fund is building solutions that shape a more equitable and safer digital ecosystem. This year, the fund announced $1.9 million in support for 24 organizations representing a diverse cross-section of youth- and intergenerationally-led work addressing critical challenges at the intersection of technology, health equity, and community well-being.

Young Leaders on their Hopes for Responsible Technology

Something is shifting in the responsible tech movement. After years of awareness campaigns, reports, and convenings, the people closest to the work are sending a clear message: it’s time to stop diagnosing the problem and start building solutions together.

The young leaders and grantees in the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) network aren’t waiting for permission to name what’s at stake. They see the connective tissue between issues that are too often siloed.

"AI, global human rights, surveillance, environmentalism, authoritarianism. These aren't separate conversations. There's a clear throughline that often gets hidden — something people in power may not want us to see."

That throughline runs through communities long before it reaches policy chambers or tech company boardrooms. And yet the people most impacted by the harms of technology remain the least resourced and listened to.

"I hope we stop treating community knowledge as a data source and start treating it as infrastructure. The people most harmed by technology have always been the most sophisticated analysts of it — they just haven't been resourced or credited as such."

This is more than a semantic distinction. It’s a demand for a fundamental reorientation of who gets to shape the digital future. Young people are clear that they must be at the center of that work. They should be subjects of research but architects of what comes next.

"It is critical for young people to be the ones who shape the digital future we want to see — one that puts privacy and safety-by-design first and that centers the lived experiences of young people."

That future requires confronting hard truths about which tech solutions have been prioritized and which have not. Bans and awareness campaigns, while necessary, are not sufficient. The field has matured. The funding and the work need to catch up.

"Bans are a starting line — they're necessary and important, but not enough. In 2026, I hope to see multi-stakeholder buy-in and execution at scale."

"Responsible technology goes beyond innovation and tech-for-good. I hope this movement prioritize the humanity behind it. Safeguarding not only the well-being of systems and infrastructures but also the communities and leaders who further its mission."

What unites these voices is an urgency tempered by belief. Young leaders believe that coalitions can be stronger, that shared wins across organizations can define a movement, and that communities facing the greatest barriers are also generating the greatest creativity and resolve.

"I hope to see the responsible tech movement invest more in data privacy and AI literacy, building young people's capacity to become active participants. Our power is in our numbers. Shared wins across organizations are what will define this movement."

In 2026, the question isn’t whether young people have the vision. They do. The question is whether the rest of the field — funders, policymakers, platforms, and partners — will finally match their moment.

"This year, I hope to see progress on guardrails for children's online safety, especially with AI companions and critical mental health risk, shaped by the lived experience of young people navigating this world firsthand."

About the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund

More content from young leaders

Young Leaders on their Hopes for Responsible Technology

Something is shifting in the responsible tech movement. After years of awareness campaigns, reports, and convenings, the people closest to the work are sending a clear message: it’s time to stop diagnosing the problem and start building solutions together.

"AI, global human rights, surveillance, environmentalism, authoritarianism. These aren't separate conversations. There's a clear throughline that often gets hidden — something people in power may not want us to see."

"I hope we stop treating community knowledge as a data source and start treating it as infrastructure. The people most harmed by technology have always been the most sophisticated analysts of it — they just haven't been resourced or credited as such."

This is more than a semantic distinction. It’s a demand for a fundamental reorientation of who gets to shape the digital future. Young people are clear that they must be at the center of that work. They should be subjects of research but architects of what comes next.

"It is critical for young people to be the ones who shape the digital future we want to see — one that puts privacy and safety-by-design first and that centers the lived experiences of young people."

That future requires confronting hard truths about which tech solutions have been prioritized and which have not. Bans and awareness campaigns, while necessary, are not sufficient. The field has matured. The funding and the work need to catch up.

"Bans are a starting line — they're necessary and important, but not enough. In 2026, I hope to see multi-stakeholder buy-in and execution at scale."

"Responsible technology goes beyond innovation and tech-for-good. I hope this movement prioritize the humanity behind it. Safeguarding not only the well-being of systems and infrastructures but also the communities and leaders who further its mission."

What unites these voices is an urgency tempered by belief. Young leaders believe that coalitions can be stronger, that shared wins across organizations can define a movement, and that communities facing the greatest barriers are also generating the greatest creativity and resolve.

"I hope to see the responsible tech movement invest more in data privacy and AI literacy, building young people's capacity to become active participants. Our power is in our numbers. Shared wins across organizations are what will define this movement."

"This year, I hope to see progress on guardrails for children's online safety, especially with AI companions and critical mental health risk, shaped by the lived experience of young people navigating this world firsthand."

About the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund

More content from young leaders