As an independent consultant, I can choose how I spend my time. This morning, I presented on the topic of AI to students at a local Lycée. Having spent the last six months teaching managers and business owners about the subject, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to get students critically thinking about the use of these tools. The presentation was filmed, and I was interviewed for the national news aired at lunchtime.

One thing I have consistently observed about the young people I meet at these events and through my teaching is that their interest and participation are often at odds with the perceptions of politicians and policymakers. They crave to learn about the latest technologies and feel they are not being taught relevant skills in their curriculum, which have remained essentially unchanged since the Second World War. When given the opportunity to explore new topics, they are eager to participate and engage.