Developmentally Safe Generative AI Environments for Youth

Overview

Generative AI (GenAI) systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Character AI, and LLaMA are rapidly changing how youth interact with technology. Youth are beginning to view GenAI as creative partners, conversational companions, and sources of emotional connection, introducing new opportunities and challenges for well-being and development.

This workshop brings together researchers, designers, educators, policymakers, and youth-focused practitioners to critically examine how GenAI shapes youths' social, cognitive, emotional, moral, and identity development, and to co-create developmentally safe, inclusive, and empowering GenAI environments.

Workshop Goals

The overarching objective of this workshop is to assemble a diverse, interdisciplinary community invested in youth-centered inquiry around generative AI, and to co-develop shared frameworks, methods, and infrastructures that support developmentally safe GenAI ecosystems.

Important Dates

Position paper submission: February 13, 2026
Notification of acceptance: February 25, 2026
Pre-attendance survey due: March 30, 2026
Workshop at CHI 2026: April 13–17, 2026 · Barcelona, Spain

Submit Your Application

We aim to:

Map developmental impacts of GenAI on youths' social, cognitive, emotional, and moral trajectories, including both risks and opportunities.
Advance ethical, participatory methods for studying youth–GenAI interactions in-situ, centering youth agency and safety.
Identify open challenges and research gaps around youth use of GenAI in real-world settings (home, school, peer, and online spaces).
Foster community-based models (e.g., community workshops, longitudinal partnerships) that collaboratively shape GenAI design, education, and policy.
Co-create actionable artifacts such as design principles, methodological guidelines, and research agendas for youth-focused GenAI.

Call for Participation

We invite researchers, practitioners, designers, educators, policymakers, and youth-focused professionals who want to explore youth × AI safety, risk, and agency. Participation is based on a short statement of interest, and you can choose the format that fits you best.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

Youth–GenAI interactions in home, school, peer, and online contexts
Developmental risks and opportunities of GenAI (e.g., overtrust, empathy gaps, identity exploration)
Bias, safety, and fairness concerns specific to youth users
Community-based and participatory research methods with youth and caregivers
Design principles for developmentally safe GenAI systems
Educational interventions, literacy-building, and co-use practices around GenAI
Policy, governance, and multi-stakeholder collaborations for youth GenAI safety

Submission Guidelines

Submit a brief statement of interest in one of several forms: (1) a 1–2 page position paper (ACM single column), (2) a design proposal or demo concept, (3) a short policy/case study vignette, or (4) a concise written statement (300–500 words) outlining what you hope to discuss or share.

All formats are lightly reviewed for relevance and potential to contribute to discussion. At least one author of each accepted submission must register for and attend the workshop (two 90-minute sessions). Accepted materials will be shared on the workshop website and presented at the workshop.

Exact submission details (format, upload site, and deadlines) will follow CHI 2026 workshop guidelines and will be updated here when available.