WEF AI specialist urges India to blend AI education with child-safety safeguards

Cathy Li, who leads the World Economic Forum’s Centre for AI Excellence, highlighted the need for India to integrate AI literacy into its education system and to create incentives for AI providers to embed child-safety safeguards. She stressed that AI solutions must be evaluated in the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as varying levels of internet access and digital literacy. Li outlined four steps: make AI literacy a school subject, require safety and child-rights assessments for child-focused AI, involve children, educators and caregivers in testing, and use procurement and funding to reward safe design.

She warned that generative AI can amplify harms such as harmful content, privacy risks and exploitation, and argued that safety and innovation should not be seen as opposing goals. The broader message is that India can shape an AI ecosystem that protects children while unlocking educational and creative benefits.