Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept; it is already shaping how young people learn, communicate, create, and make decisions. For today’s youth and teens, AI will be as commonplace as the internet, smartphones, and social media platforms. The real question is not whether students will use AI, but how they will use it. The challenge isn’t whether they will use it, it’s how they will use it. I.N.S.P.I.R.E. stands for “Intentional Navigation & Safer Practices for Inclusive, Responsible, and Ethically engaged Use of Artificial Intelligence.”

The I.N.S.P.I.R.E. AI program equips high school students with the knowledge, tools, critical thinking skills, and practical strategies needed to navigate AI safely, responsibly, and ethically. Grounded in real-world examples, current research, and investigative experience, this program helps students understand both the power and responsibility that come with AI use.

Key Program Components

• Understand how AI is integrated into their daily digital environments

• Identify AI-related risks to safety, privacy, identity, misinformation, and future employment

• Develop critical thinking skills to question and evaluate AI-generated content

• Learn how to use AI as a tool, without becoming controlled by it

• Advocate for balanced, ethical, and protective uses of artificial intelligence

Understanding AI in Everyday Youth & Teen Experiences

• How AI is embedded in social media, search engines, apps, devices, and classrooms

• What AI is (and isn’t), and how it shapes what students see, hear, and engage with online

AI Algorithms, Surveillance & Manipulation

• How algorithms influence attention, behaviour, and decision-making

• The role of data collection, profiling, and behavioural targeting

Seeing Is No Longer Believing: AI Deepfakes & Digital Deception

• How AI-generated images, video, and audio blur reality

• Identifying misinformation, impersonation, and manipulated content

AI Deepfake Sextortion & Exploitation

• How AI is being misused to create and weaponize fake intimate images

• Practical prevention strategies and what to do if targeted

AI Fraud, Voice Cloning & Identity Theft

• Emerging scams using AI-generated voices and identities

• Protecting personal information and digital identity

Using AI in the Classroom: Assistant or Shortcut?

• Ethical and responsible academic use of AI

• Understanding academic integrity, learning impact, and long-term consequences

The Future of Work: Career Planning in an AI Economy

• How AI is reshaping careers, skills, and post-secondary pathways

• Preparing for an AI-influenced job market

AI, the Environment & Sustainability

• Understanding the environmental footprint of AI technologies

Legal & Professional Consequences of AI Misuse

• Potential academic, legal, and reputational risks

• How AI use today can impact future opportunities

AI Safety Strategies

• Practical, student-friendly tools to reduce risk

• Developing intentional, ethical, and informed AI habits