Arm and UNICEF launch AI in Play to expand access to AI innovation
Arm and UNICEF launched AI in Play to expand AI innovation access for children and communities in emerging economies, building on their decade-long partnership.
Artificial intelligence is transforming education, healthcare, and climate systems, but access to AI tools remains uneven, risking deeper digital divides. To address this, UNICEF and Arm introduced AI in Play, an initiative co-designed to accelerate practical AI solutions for young people and communities in emerging economies. The program builds on a ten-year collaboration between Arm and UNICEF, aiming to ensure AI is inclusive, ethical, and designed to benefit all young people. By enabling local innovators and educators, the initiative seeks to broaden participation in building the AI-powered future.
The initiative brings together technology companies, governments, entrepreneurs, and communities to co-create AI solutions addressing real-world challenges in education, climate, and health. AI in Play connects proven programs, technology partners, and local innovators through an open ecosystem, accelerating the transition of AI-powered ideas from pilots to meaningful impact. Arm and UNICEF emphasize the importance of edge AI, which processes data on devices rather than relying on cloud infrastructure, enabling reliable AI experiences in areas with limited connectivity.
Arm and UNICEF have worked together for a decade, applying technology to challenges facing children and communities, reaching over 770,000 children across emerging economies. Arm’s expertise in energy-efficient computing, combined with UNICEF’s experience in community engagement, provides a foundation for deploying AI solutions that are practical and scalable. The initiative calls on the wider technology industry to participate, ensuring young people are not just beneficiaries but active contributors to shaping the AI era.
AI in Play is designed as an open ecosystem, inviting technology companies, entrepreneurs, and governments to collaborate. The goal is to ensure diverse innovators can build AI solutions that improve children’s lives and equip the next generation with skills for the AI economy. By fostering partnerships and sharing resources, the initiative aims to move promising AI-powered solutions from ideas to impact more quickly, addressing global challenges through inclusive and responsible AI innovation.